"You should have seen these food stores before the price reforms," he exclaims.

Then he acknowledges that price reform is very hard.

He calls for price reform - but most prices would stay regulated.

Many experts had predicted that all price reform would be delayed for several years.

But he declined to name a date for convertibility, saying it would come after a major price reform.

"I see no evidence that they're acting on the major problems of price reforms, genuine enterprise reform and the like."

But in matters like price reform, to which there is substantial opposition, he has not been able to pull political consensus together.

He promised this would change when realistic price reforms are carried out in 1989 and 1990.

He has called for price reform but would keep most prices regulated.

We will be conducting price reform in 1989 and 1990.