Kosygin Visits Cuba

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31407, 28 June 1967, Page 17

Kosygin Visits Cuba

(N Z.P.A -Reuter —Copyright)

HAVANA, June 27.

The Soviet Prime Minister, Mr Alexei Kosygin, began talks in Havana today with the Cuban Prime Minister, Dr. Fidel Castro, immediately after he flew in from the Unied States.

Observers do not expect any significant results from the talks, aimed at healing Dr. Castro’s growing disenchantment with the Kremlin. It was not known how long the surprise visit would last, but Soviet sources said as the two leaders began their discussions last night that “it was clearly not just a matter of hours.” Soviet-Cuban differences on several international topics, including Latin America, Vietnam and peaceful co-existence, have come increasingly into the open since the last visit by a top Soviet statesman, the Foreign Minister. Mr Andrei Gromyko, in October, 1965. Cuba’s apparent disapproval of the recent meeting between President Johnson and Mr Kosygin and public condemnation of the Soviet line during the recent Middle East war, are the most recent signs of Cuban-Soviet differences. There was no direct criticism here of the Glassboro summit meetings, but very little space was devoted to the meetings. During the Middle East war, Cuba openly criticised the Soviet-supported Security Council call for a cease-fire

without condemning the aggressor.

The position adopted by the Cuban delegation in the current General Assembly Emergency session on the crisis was also much more radical than that taken by Mr Kosygin. Cuba gave Mr Kosygin a polite but restrained welcome when he arrived for the talks with Dr. Castro, United Press International reported. Although Mr Kosygin is the first Soviet Prime Minister to visit Cuba, he was greeted by none of the fanfare usually accorded visiting dignitaries. There were no banners or welcoming signs, security was light and Havana Radio reported his arrival in a few words.

Western reporters were kept at a distance from the arrival ceremony. Western diplomats stayed away.

Pisa’s Tower Static.—The leaning tower of Pisa did not increase its lean during the last 12 months, engineers announced after its annual measuring yesterday. The 180 ft high tower is almost 17|ft off vertical and usually heels over about one-twenty-fifth of an inch each year.— Pisa, June 27.