Brezhnev rebukes U.S. for ‘seeking advantages’

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 8

Brezhnev rebukes U.S. for ‘seeking advantages’

[NZPA-Reuter New York! i The Soviet President (Mr! .Leonid Brezhnev) has said ini [ an interview that the United I States has given him little I encouragement in the last ) two years to improve relations, but he still hopes a (new arms limitation treaty [will be signed soon. i On the recent establish[ment of diplomatic relations [between the United States | and China, Mr Brezhnev said. [some people in the United! ! States and other Western: ! countries were tempted to I [turn China into “an in-1 ! strument of pressure” on the' socialist world. “Such a policy appears to' |me to be adventurous and! highly dangerous for the cause of universal peace,” he was quoted as saying in “Time” magazine. Mr Brezhnev was interviewed for the magazine on January 9, before starting [his present holiday in Bui-1 garia.

:! “On the whole, over the ■ last couple of years, there 'have been few encouraging 'moments, to be frank, in So-viet-American relations,” 'Mr Brezhnev said. “Speaking quite candidly, I will tell you that very often we are hard put even to understand Washington’s persistent desire to seek advantages for itself in the disadvantages of others,” he i added. ! He said that the Soviet [Union saw no obstacles to :(•re-establishing friendly rela'|tions with Peking, if China “becomes more reasonable and powerful.” China was making a lot of noise about the intervention I of Vietnam in Kampuchean (Cambodian) affairs, and “it’s another example of the antiVietnamese. chauvinistic nature of the policy of the present Chinese leadership . . .” he said. On attempts of Moscow land Washington to conclude a new Strategic Arms Limi-

tation Treaty, Mr Brezhnev said work on the new agreement was drawing to a close. He expressed hope that “President. Carter and I will be able in the near future to affix our signatures to the accord.”