Novosibirsk 630090

                                                                 Computing center

                                                 Corresponding member of the USSR AS

                                                                     A.P. Ershov

                                                             December 29, 1978

To Academician V.K. Kabulov

Tashkent

                                                         Dear Vasil Kabulovich!

Taking a convenient opportunity I am sending my letter slightly in advance to yours that I have not
received yet but have heard of from Babamuradov during his yesterday’s telephone call. I’m in a
hurry to reply since time is getting short.

I am perplexed by a conditional nature of your letter since I don’t know how can I help to resolve
the terms of financing. Babamuradov alludes to some talk (allegedly by me) that Moscow is going to
take upon itself all necessary expenses. It seems to me that all I could have said is that Moscow may
cover the expenses for individual reception of the scientists who are invited as guests of USSR AS
Presidium. What for the direct conference conduction expenses, according to our experiences they
are always incumbent upon an organizing institution, which is allowed by a direction of Presidium
(in your case – UzSSR AS Presidium) to spend upon a conference its principal cash resources.

Mr. Tabakeev, FRD deputy chief, advised us against planning to invite scientists as Academy of
Sciences guests since the Academy hotel in Moscow will be closed for reconstruction and they will
not be able to accommodate them. The last letter from A.A. Dorodnitsyn supported by my talk with
him suggests, however, that in respect of some of the guests, at least those who will interest A.A.,
some pressure might be applied.

I’d like to add that should Intourist agree to sell tours to foreign symposium participants including
trip, accommodation in Urgench and tourist services and transfer in Moscow and Tashkent, the
expenses would be reduced to minimum. I reckon this to be an acceptable form for the most of
foreign participants, but it calls for prompt and initiative agreement with Intourist.

Babamuradov, if we understood him right, told that you could send to FRD consent of local
authorities only by demand from here. I’m not sure about his exact words. This symposium, like all
similar affairs, is an initiative arrangement and FRD, having enough routine work, will not stir a
finger to remind us what documents we are required to produce. Nevertheless, I should not advice to
rely entirely on my words but rather by direct contact with FRD find out what else they need to
sanction the distribution of official announcement.

Vasil Kabulovich, I am greatly concerned with the feeling that the problem of symposium is being
in a somewhat suspended state. It doesn’t cost anything to ruin this affair because of a multitude of
different difficulties. Scientific and prestigious value of such a forum is very high. My judgment of
this is based first of all on a scientific caliber of potential participants. At the same time it is clear
that the participants’ interest is roused first of all by the location and historical motive for the
symposium conduction. At no other place could we assemble such a quorum. However they need at
least six months to get ready for the trip, first of all to get cash resources that are very substantial for
such a journey – from 1.5 to 2 thousand dollars. And all this cannot be started without formal
invitation. Now every week of procrastination may prove critical for some of the participants, and if
we are not be able to get approval for conduction, we will have no other choice than sound the
retreat.

Today many, especially well-known western scientists, have to surmount a certain pressure to
undertake a trip to the USSR, especially to attend our actions. We should rather not disappoint those
having enough resolution and good will to overcome this pressure.

I would very much hope that your enthusiasm and authority would be sufficient to overcome
possible difficulties in preparation for this event that even now already gained a high reputation
among specialists.

Wishing you the best in the coming year, yours

A.Ershov