1.   Commentators noted that the leadership restructuring was likely in practice to curtail still further the role of both the politburo and central committee in influencing state policy.

2.   Commentators noted the burden this would place on inefficient, loss-making enterprises.

3.   Commentators noted that the decree might prove impossible to implement except by force.

4.   Commentators noted that the switch to full hard-currency trading would badly hit the east European states.

5.   Some commentators also noted that the Council included only one non-Russian, the ethnic-Latvian current Interior Minister, Boris Pugo.

6.   Commentators noted that it echoed the earlier document in its advocacy of social justice linked with the free operation of the market.

7.   Other commentators noted that the government was unlikely in an election year to introduce reforms which would bring with them large numbers of redundancies.

8.   Commentators noted that, throughout the negotiations, the USA made a conscious effort to distance itself from the proceedings.

9.   Commentators noted that Hekmatyar continued to enjoy the support of the Pakistan fundamentalist religious party, Jammat-i-Islami.

10.   Commentators noted that a number of new members of the Cabinet had gained their political experience, like Abdesellam himself, under the regime of President Houari Boumedienne.