West Assured On Soviet Desires

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 13

West Assured On Soviet Desires

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) MOSCOW, November 12. A Soviet commentator assured the West today that the occupation of Czechoslovakia did not contradict Russia’s desire for peace in Europe and said that his country was ready to cooperate towards a European relaxation.

“The Soviet Union” Yuri Goloshubov wrote in the Government newspaper “Izvestia,” “is ready for further active co-operation with all countries interested in a European relaxation.” His remarks came in an article devoted to the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ministerial conference, which is due to take place in Brussels on Thursday in an effort to bolster Western defences in Europe after the Czechoslovak Goloshubov related the Czechoslovak occupation to the Soviet Union’s unwavering determination to defend the Socialist bloc from any ’ subversion by the West. ,

But he added: “Let no-one seek any contradictions between this determination and the determination to defend the cause of peace. Such a contradiction does not exist.” After asserting Russia’s readiness for co-operation with other countries toward a European relaxation, he warned N.A.T.O. ministers: “The rulers of N.A.T.O. must firmly master this thought: Peaceful, all European co-operation must be built with awareness of political reality, on the basis of recognising the unshakeability of evisting borders. And of course, an abandonment of any attempts to export coun-ter-revolution into the countries of the Socialist commonwealth. Such export is doomed to failure.”

His two conditions appeared to be aimed chiefly at West Germany, which Russia accuses of seeking to regain Polish and Czechoslovak territory lost during World War II and of supporting Czechoslovak counter-revolution-aries.