Conversion Soviet Style R G Gidadhubli AN important component of Gorbachev's policy of perestroika and glasnost has been the conversion of defence establishments for civilian needs. Gorbachev's historic speech at the 43rd UN General Assembly in December 1988 on new thinking in domestic and foreign policy of the USSR and his call for disarmament on a global scale gave greater credibility and impetus to the conversion programme that the USSR had already launched in the country.