Russians willing to talk, U.S. believes

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 8

Russians willing to talk, U.S. believes

NZPA-Reuter Washington The American State Department said yesterday that the Soviet President (Mr Leonid Brezhnev) may have signalled a willingness by the Kremlin to negotiate real cutbacks in European theatre nuclear forces. • A department spokesman conceded that there was nothing new in Mr Brezhnev’s offer in Bonn to unilaterally reduce the number bf Soviet medium-range missiles in Eastern Europe. But the United States hoped, “that President Brezhnev’s willingness to consider reductions is a sign that the Soviets are beginning to see the advantages of pursuing genuine arms reductions in this area,” he said. American and Soviet negotiators will open talks next week in Geneva aimed at

reducing intermediate-range nuclear forces in Europe. “A dialogue is under way which in itself is a reason for encouragement,” the State Department said. “The Brezhnev proposal in Bonn is another version of the old moratorium proposal which the Soviets have made on several occasions beginning in 1979. It contains nothing that is significantly new.

“President Reagan has made a new, fair and concrete proposal which would lead to real and verifiable reductions in intermediaterange nuclear' forces, the State Department said. “President Reagan has committed the United States to negotiate in good faith. If the Soviet side adopts the same attitude, the upcoming talks offer an opportunity for progress. We hope that as negotiations proceed, the

Soviets will take a forthcoming and fair position.” In an interview earlier yesterday on the Cable News television network, the White House counsellor, Edwin Meese, said the Brezhnev offer to cut back some missiles appeared to be a positive step. “If he is sincere, and I hope he is, it is a step in the right direction. “1... think it does show a recognition that President Reagan has made an important, bold initiative in presenting the idea of total reduction of intermediaterange nuclear missiles. “And I think the fact that Brezhnev has made that first step indicates he realises the President is serious. And we hope that he (Mr Brezhnev) can not only make that step but come a long way in the negotiations that start next week,” Mr Meese said.