We want accord: Carter

Press, 15 July 1978, Page 9

We want accord: Carter

President Carter has said in an interview that he is confident the United States Senate will ratify a new strategic-arms limitation agreement in spite of tensions in Soviet-American relations. The President predicted that the Senate would follow the example it set in ratifving a controversial treaty giving Panama control of; the Panama Canal m the; year 2000 and in approving l the sale of warplanes to; Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The President gave his! views in an interview with! Heinz Lonfeldt of “Der Spiegel" magazine before he left] Washington to begin a two-; day Stare visit to West Ger-1 many. Mr Carter again empha-,

sised that the United States wanted a S.A.L.T. agreement and would not abandon its goal because of the Soviet Union’s human-rights record. “We recognise . , . that our relations with the Soviet Union will continue to be a mixture of co-operation and competition,” he said. Discussing his campaign to expand human rights, the President declared: “When we speak out on humanitarian issues, we do so not! to interfere in the internal! affairs of other nations, but because of our belief in the value of the individual. “Our concern for human rights is global and is notj restricted to any nation or region.” Mr Carter, who has frequently condemned So-i

viet and Cuban military activities in Africa, said he felt the two communist countries eventually would be rejected decisively by the Africans. “Countries that have suffered iong decades of colonialism are not likely to welcome a new imperialism.” he said. ■ [ Mr Carter praised the West German Chancellor.’ Helmut. Schmidt, saying their personal relationship | was excellent. “I have the highest respect and regard for him as a wise and distinguished statesman and as a personal friend.” he said.