America passes on space draft

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 8

America passes on space draft

NZPA-Reuter Washington The United States said yesterday that it had given the Soviet Union its draft for a joint statement to precede proposed talks on weapons in space in September. A State Department spokesman, John Hughes, said that the message was relayed privately and through diplomatic channels in Washington. Officials said it was handed to Victor Isakov, number two at the Soviet Embassy, when he called at the department. Moscow said on Tuesday that it had proposed the two sides should issue a joint statement declaring they would negotiate a ban on space weapons and had sent Washington its suggested wording. State Department officials indicated that the U.S. and Soviet positions had not converged in the draft exchanges. “We would clearly not go back with the same words as they presented us with yesterday,” one said. “Today we responded to the Soviet Union on their proposal for language on a

joint announcement,” Mr Hughes said. “The U.S. wants these talks to succeed and we believe that handling the response through diplomatic channels offers the best approach.” , He did not disclose the contents of the U.S. draft. According to the White House the United States originally suggested that a joint statement be worked out. State department officials said that the U.S. was still aiming for the talks to start in Vienna on September 18. The Soviet Union a month ago proposed discussions on the militarisation of space and the U.S. insisted they should also embrace strategic and medium-range nuclear missiles. Officials said yesterday the U.S. still wanted to raise other matters, particularly the stalled nuclear talks. Moscow pulled out of medium-range missile talks last year after American cruise and Pershing missiles were deployed in Europe. Both the Soviet Union and the U.S. appeared determined to avoid blame if the Vienna talks did not take place.