Carter: Summit mission of peace

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 8

Carter: Summit mission of peace

NZPA-Reuter Vienna President Jimmy Carter has called his Vienna summit meeting with the Soviet leader. Leonid Brezhnev, a mission of peace aimed at strengthening co-operation and understanding between the United States and the Soviet Union. [ Speaking at Vienna Air1 port on his arrival. President 'Carter said the signing of [the new Strategic Arms [Limitation Treaty — iS.A.L.T. II — between the two leaders would not settle all the differences betwen the .two super-Powers but would reduce the dangers of a nuclear war. “I have come to meet with President Brezhnev on a mission of peace — to strengthen and enlarge cooperation and understanding between the United States [and the Soviet Union, to re-1 [duce the dangers of nuclear [war, to move towards a; more stable and secure; world,” he said. "We have no illusions that this agreement will rid the world of danger or end all [differences between our two! I nations. But we are confident that S.A.L.T. II will [widen the areas of co-oper-iation and reduce the dangers of nuclear holocaust.” President Carter and Pres-i ident Brezhnev will meet for’ /the first time todav in the; [glittering splendour ofi [Austria’s thirteenth-century j Imperial Palace. i Thev will -jv? at the Hofburg Palace three min-l lutes anart. fi’-st M r Carter.; [then Mr P r ezhnev. The twni headers w% <r>end about 15 [minutes getting .acquainted,!

[with only interpreters present. The meeting in the Hofburg’s ornate Rose Room has been carefully arranged to provide a neutral, informal setting for their first encounter at the start cf the four-day meeting which may be crucial for United StatesSoviet relations. While Mr Carter, who is 54, will use the stairs in the par t-Gothic, part-Renais-sance, part-Baroque palace, Mr Brezhnev, who is 72, will be gently guided to a lift, a concession to his health. In other developments, the Soviet Union is prepared to withdraw 60,000 troops from Central Europe in a joint military cutback with the United States, Warsaw, Pact diplomats have said. President. Leonid Brezhnev [will put the offer to President Carter today and will [urge prompt action by both [sides, the diplomats said. [ Mr Brezhnev’s reported ! readiness to pull out the equivalent of five Soviet divisions would depend on withdrawal of about 32.000 United States soldiers from [West Germany, the diplomats said. The United States-Soviet withdrawals would represent a first phase in an EastWest military manpower re--1 duction programme that has been under negotiation for 51 years. This is intended [ eventually to involve cuts bv 11 nations with troops in Cenfral Fnrope. The matter has been under rlOCT ntiation in Vienna since 1973 and has bogged down in w’ranales over what con=:tutes balanced forces in Central Iftirope.