Kissinger to go to Moscow

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 13

Kissinger to go to Moscow

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 6. The Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger) will make another of the overseas trips that has marked his term of Government service. He is now off to Moscow late next month to complete plans for a visit later in the y ear by President Nixon.

Dr Kissinger’s latest jaunt I was announced after talks The Soviet Foreign Minister I (Mr Andrei Gromyko) had with him and President Nixon in a two-and-a-half-day stay r in Washington on the way r home from Cuba. Exactly when Mr Nixon 1 will make his second trip to 1 Moscow as President since ' 1972 was not announced in >]a joint Soviet-American com-| munique issued last night, | 1 after Mr Gromyko completed, J-jhis talks. Informed sources said that ’ it would possibly depend on ■the outcome of the second '.stage of the Strategic Arms ’ Limitation Talks (S.A.L.T.) ! to begin on February 19. ’ Mr Gromyko completed his 3 talks with Dr Kissinger with ' a long meeting at the Soviet Embassy, their second raeet--1 ing in two days. Altogether '■ Mr Gromyko spent five hours ■jin talks with the Secretary of ':State and President Nixon. I The White House com'jmunique said that the three ' talked about prospects for 'more arms accords. ’■ Other subjects discussed! were the development of! trade and economic relations,' the European Security Con- ’ ferenee — which they agreed : should be successful con-’ ■eluded as soon as possible—mutual force reductions in jEurope, and the Middle East. The Middle East was given special attention and stress i was laid on the need for a peace settlement in the area.! The discussions are at a time; ■when the United States is) ■pressing for a halt to renewed

t fighting between Israel and > Syria. r The communique made no 1 mention of U.S.-Cuban relat tions. i U.S.-Cuban relations had i been expected to be a major topic of Mr Gromyko’s talks ! in view of the fact that he ; arrived fresh from talks with > Cuban Government leaders i during the Havana visit last .jweek by Mr Brezhnev. J Senator Edward Kennedy, jione of the Congressional (Democrats who has been t pushing for restoration of re- [ lations with Cuba, told the I Senate last night that “the. ; underpinning of our policy of I ) isolation towards Cuba has; been eaten away by the pas-1 , sage of time and it stands' i perilously close to toppling! under its own weight.” i He said that Mr Gromyko’s | • visit to Washington straight! j from talks in Havana “indi- ■ cate that now is the time for! the United States to begin! . the process of normalising! . relations with Cuba.” He suggested that during; the coming meeting of West-; |ern hemisphere foreign minis-! Iters in Mexico, Dr Kissinger; should endorse a resolution giving all members of the! Organisation of American! i States (0.A.5.) freedom to I make their own decisions; about relations with Cuba,