Envoys told to leave

Press, 19 September 1985, Page 7

Envoys told to leave

NZPA-Reuter Moscow The Soviet Union yesterday ordered five British Embassy staff and one British journalist to leave Moscow in response to the expulsions of six Soviet staff from London, the British Ambassador said.

Sir Bryan Cartledge said he had been given the names when he was summoned yesterday morning to the Foreign Ministry. The

names included a first secretary, an assistant air attache, two staff members in the attache’s office, and a communications official as well as a Reuters correspondent Martin Nesirky. The Ambassador, in a statement to reporters, said a Foreign Ministry official, Vladimir Suslov, accused the six of engaging in activities incompatible with their status. He said, “I told Dr Suslov

that the accusations were groundless and totally unjustified. I categorically rejected them and registered a protest in the strongest terms against the Soviet action. “This is a vengeful and spiteful act directed wholly against blameless people who have, in their respective spheres, been working hard and conscientiously to improve Anglo-Soviet rela£i.ons.”