The likely catalyst for the coup was today's scheduled signing of a new union treaty redefining relations between the central Government and its restive republics.

But unlike nationalists in other restive republics, the Georgians have been unable to unite.

He also reiterated his determination to hold the restive republics together.

And though repression might manage the problem temporarily it could not solve it permanently - in Lithuania or in other restive Soviet republics.

That could keep the missiles now based in restive outlying republics from falling into the wrong hands.

Some are based in restive republics like the Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The Yugoslav Prime Minister warned today that continued moves by this country's restive republics to block economic and political change might lead to disintegration of the country.

Security officials here in Karachayevo-Cherkessia, a restive republic on Russia's mountainous southern border, have a secret list of people who are kept under scrutiny.

Mr. Bush is also flying to the Ukraine, another large and restive republic, on his way back to Washington.

Getting that assurance opens the way to economic engagement with the restive Soviet republics as well as with Moscow.