Andrei A Gromyko

Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the Soviet Communist Party's general secretary, was elected the nation's president Saturday, completing a two-day realignment of the Kremlin leadership and further consolidating his power. Addressing the Supreme Soviet, the country's Parliament, after it chose him as president, Gorbachev pledged "energetic and decisive steps" to implement his reform program, which has lost much of its momentum and encountered some serious opposition.

Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev dramatically reshaped the Kremlin's political hierarchy on Friday, moving key supporters into the Communist Party's ruling Politburo and retiring four of its longtime members, including Andrei A. Gromyko, who for decades represented the grim face of Soviet diplomacy.

Former Soviet President Andrei A. Gromyko, who became known as the world's most durable diplomat after 28 years as foreign minister for the Soviet Union, was hailed Monday--a day after his death--as a "devoted soldier" to the nation. But reaction in the capital to Gromyko's death at age 79 was low key.

Soviet President Andrei A. Gromyko met Tuesday with Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal, Tass reported.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko is scheduled to arrive in Spain on Feb. 28 for a two-day official visit, Foreign Ministry sources said.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko's visit to the Netherlands has been postponed because the dates proposed by the Dutch government "do not suit him," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday. The visit, originally scheduled for late February or early March, will take place later this year, according to the spokesman, who added that no new dates have been set.

Canadian Foreign Minister Joe Clark arrived in Leningrad on Saturday at the start of a nine-day official visit to the Soviet Union, the official Tass news agency said. He is expected to meet with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko and possibly with new Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev during his stay in Moscow.

Foreign Minister Taher Masri will visit Moscow early next week for talks with Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko on Jordanian-Palestinian moves for Mideast peace, Jordan's state radio reported Wednesday. Masri will also deliver a letter from King Hussein to Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev, it said.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz arrived Friday on a previously unannounced visit, according to Tass, the official Soviet news agency. The report gave no further details except to say it was a short working visit agreed on by both sides. Iraqi sources said Aziz would meet Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko today.