World leaders offer their sympathies

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 10

World leaders offer their sympathies

NZPA-AP New York World leaders have offered their condolences on Mr Chernenko’s death and said that he would be remembered for deciding to resume arms-control talks with the United States.

Several urged Mr Gorbachev to work to maintain a dialogue between the two super-Powers, whose negotiators returned to the arms bargaining table today in Geneva. The President of the United States, Mr Ronald Reagan, in a message to the Acting Head of State, Vasily Kuznetsov, said, “I wish to reiterate the strong desire of the American people for world peace.” Noting that the Geneva

talks were set to begin, he said, “we must seize the opportunities for peace.” He also said earlier that he would like to meet Mr Gorbachev. The Vice-Presi-dent, Mr George Bush, will represent the United States at the funeral. China, which has been at ideological odds with the Kremlin for years, called Mr Chernenko an “outstanding leader.” A Foreign Ministry statement expressed hope that “positive tendencies” towards better relations between the two Communist giants “will further develop.” Israel’s Foreign Minister, Mr Yitzhak Shamir, said that the Jewish State hoped for improved relations but

it was “too early” to say if Mr Gorbachev’s leadership would mean a significant change. Pope John Paul II said that he was giving “a particular thought to the memory of the illustrious deceased.” - Leaders from around the world are flying to Moscow to attend the funeral this evening (New Zealand Time).

In the Soviet bloc Staterun radio and television stations interrupted their regular programmes to announce Mr Chernenko’s death after a “grave illness.” East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Rumania declared official days of mourning.