Russia reassures Yugoslavia

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 8

Russia reassures Yugoslavia

NZPA-Reuter Belgrade The Soviet Union Communist Partv leader. Mr Leonid Brezhnev, dismissing “Western fairly tales” about a Russian threat to Yugoslavia, has given a public pledge to President Tito that there will be no interference in his country’s internal affairs. Speaking at a banquet in Belgrade, Mr Brezhnev described concern in the West about Moscow’s intentions

towards Yugoslavia as absurd. “The authors of such fairy tales try to represent Yugoslavia as some poor, helpless little Red Riding Hood whom a terrible bloodthi sty wolf—the aggressive Soviet Union — is preparin' to tear apart and devour,” he said. Mr Brezhnev appeared to be taking aim principally at the American Presidentelect (Mr Jimmy Carter) because of a series of statements on how Wash-'

ington should react In the event of a Soviet Union attack on Yugoslavia after the death of Marshal Tito, who is 84. Mr Brezhnev’s speech, obviously shaped to be as reassuring as possible to the Yugoslavs, said that the Soviet Union was firmly committed to developing relations with Yugoslavia “on the basis of complete equality, mutual respect and trust, and absolute non-interference in internal affairs.”