29 
members are recruited from the state and party administrative struc- 
tures and have career experience in different areas. Although the 
emphasis is on reaching consensus, Politburo members are politicians 
with responsibilities in other bureaucracies and have different policy 
perspectives and areas of expertise.!? One analyst concludes that Polit- 
buro members are accorded some deference by others when their 
area of specialty is under discussion.”° 
Kirill T. Mazurov is the Politburo member most active in ocean 
issues. Mazurov holds a joint appointment and is also First Deputy 
Chairman of the Council of Ministers. He may deal with ocean issues 
in this latter capacity since he is charged with oversight of the Light 
and Food Industry as part of his government function. Mazurov has 
been frequently identified in his dual capacity as Politburo and govern- 
ment member in meetings with foreign representatives of fisheries, 
maritime, and U.N. Seabed Committee delegations.?! The Soviet Polit- 
buro may assign responsibilities in a specialized area to a single 
member and Mazurov may be in charge of preparing the agenda 
when ocean topics are considered at meetings. Even if this responsi- 
bility is not officially delegated, his expertise undoubtedly will carry 
over in Politburo discussions on those occasions when ocean issues 
are examined. Mazurov can be characterized as conservative on 
ideology and foreign policy and pragmatic and flexible on economic 
affairs. 
Andrei Gromyko, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, would have special 
competence in Law of the Sea issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
conducts extensive work in this field, and Gromyko is probably both 
well informed and in close contact with legal maritime issues. It may 
be that even prior to his appointment to the Politburo in 1973 he 
was consulted or asked to participate in discussions as an expert 
on legal matters. The Minister of Defense can also be seen as a 
special representative of defense interests and would probably have 
technical competence in strategic and naval issues. Because of the 
ongoing ground force and naval rivalry, however, it is not obvious 
that he would be a proponent of the naval interests. 
See for example, Hahn; Grey Hodnett, “Succession Contingencies in the Soviet Union,” 
Problems of Communism 24 (March-April 1975): 1-21; Jiri Valenta, ‘““Soviet Foreign Policy Deci- 
sion-Making and Bureaucratic Politics: Czechoslovak Crisis 1968” (Ph.D. dissertation, Johns Hopkins 
University School of Advanced International Studies, 1975). 
20Gilison, p. 150. 
*! The following meetings between Mazurov and foreign maritime delegations have been identified: 
1975: January 14, Mazurov received the President of the U.N. Law of the Sea Conference, Ambas- 
sador Amersinghe for discussion. TASS, January 15, 1975. Cited in ‘“‘Foreign Broadcast Information 
Service (FBIS) Daily Report Soviet Union,” January 15, 1975, p. A. 1. April 7, Mazurov received 
the General Secretary of the International Maritime Consultative Organization and they discussed 
problems of international cooperation in navigation. Moscow Domestic Service in Russian. April 7, 
1975. In FBIS, April 10, 1975, p. A. 14. November 25, 1975, Mazurov received French merchant 
marine representatives. December 18, 1975, Mazurov received the Greek Minister of Merchant 
Marine in connection with an agreement on trade navigation. TASS, December 18, 1975. In FBIS, 
December 22, 1975, p. G.I. 1974: June 18, Mazurov met with the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries 
and they discussed Soviet Norwegian cooperation in the fishing industry and protection of fishery 
resources as well as other questions. Moscow Domestic Service in Russian. June 18, 1974. In FBIS 
June 20, 1974, p. E. 8. 1973: October 8-11, Mazurov participated in meetings with Tanaka and the 
‘Japanese delegation in the Soviet Union. Fisheries questions were on the agenda. The Minister of 
Fisheries was also present during some sessions. See Pravda, October 8, 9, 10, 11, 1973. Vodnyi 
Transport, November 1, 1973. October 26, the Japanese Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and 
Forestries visited the Soviet Union to discuss questions of developing and strengthening cooperation 
in fisheries. He was received by K. T. Mazurov. Vodnyi transport, November 1, 1973. 1972: April 
18, Mazurov received a Japanese fisheries delegation. Moscow Domestic Service in Russian. April 
18, 1972. In FBIS April 20, 1972, p. C. 7. 
