Khrushchev Ends Six-Day Tour Of Bulgaria

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 6

Khrushchev Ends Six-Day Tour Of Bulgaria

(N J! J*.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, May 21. The Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) has returned to Moscow after rebuking the West, promising help to Jugoslavia, and criticising some Afro-Asian leaders during a six-day tour, of Bulgaria, in which he made many speeches.

In a speech last night, Mr Khrushchev criticised some unnamed leaders of newlyliberated countries in Asia and Africa who “spoke about building socialism but apparently did not see that class struggle was the only way to prosperity.” Observers in Sofia, speculating on the significance of these remarks, thought they might be a hint to politicians in the uncommitted world that Soviet support and aid was most likely to go to those who moved nearer to the Soviet concept of socialism.

Relations With Jugoslavia Observers who were puzzled by the inclusion of the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko) in the delegation thought they saw a clue in Mr Khrushchev’s friendly references to improved relations with Jugoslavia.

Mr Khrushchev spoke more kindly of the Belgrade regime than any Soviet leader has done for years and observers considered it significant he should do so in neighbouring Bulgaria, whose relations with Jugoslavia are still cool. These observers took this as a sign that it was Moscow policy to foster better Jugoslav relations throughout the Soviet bloc and Mr Gromyko might have accompanied the Prime

Minister to advise how to go about this.

Although the final communique on the visit made no specific mention of Jugoslavia, the Bulgarian Communist Party leader (Mr Todor Zhivkov), in a speech last night, said relations with Belgrade were “improving every day” and he promised to do everything to continue this process. Mr Gromyko might also have come along to talk about the Balkans generally, observers thought, and Bulgaria’s relations with her other neighbours there, Greece and Turkey, whom the final communique criticised for their participation in N.A.T.O.

The communique said Bulgaria fully supported Soviet proposals for transforming the Balkans and the Adriatic into an area free of atomic and rocket weapons. Peace Treaty Wanted The Soviet Union and Bulgaria called for the conclusion of a German peace treaty, liquidation of “the occupation regime" in West Berlin and the transformation of West Berlin into a free, demilitarised city. Further, they demanded “respect for the sovereignty” of the Communist East German regime.

“The Soviet Union and Bulgaria are prepared to do everything in their power to ensure the vital functioning of the free city of West Berlin and non-intervention in its internal affairs,” said the communique. “They stand for giving the free city most reliable international guarantees and agree that for tfiese purposes small troop contingents of neutral States of the United Nations be stationed in West Berlin for a definite period of time.” The communique said that the Soviet Union and its allies would sign a separate treaty with East Germany "if the Western Powers continue keeping to unreasonable and unrealistic positions.” The communique also called for: An agreement banning the spread of nuclear weapons to all countries not now possessing them. The establishment of nuclear free zones in various parts of the globe, including the two Germanys, the Balkans and the Adriatic. Complete and general disarmament on previously announced Russian terms.