Moscow has sited missiles—N.A.T.O.

Press, 19 September 1985, Page 8

Moscow has sited missiles —N.A.T.O.

NZPA-Reuter ,?• Brussels The Soviet Union had continued to deploy new SS2O medium-range nuclear missiles in spite of a freeze announced by Moscow in April, N.A.T.O. said yesterday.

The number of SS2O nuclear missiles now stood at 441, 27 more since the moratorium on deployment declared by the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, the new chairman of N.A.T.O.’s Special Consultative Group told a news conference.

Allen Holmes, director of the American State Department’s bureau of political/ military affairs, spoke after a meeting of the group of senior N.A.T.O. arms control specialists on the eve of

resumed United StatesSoviet arms negotiations in Geneva. He said that the group had noted with regret that Moscow had not so far been willing to negotiate towards an equal global ceiling on medium-range missiles for the United States and Soviet Union.

“We note the increase in the launchers and that construction (of new sites) continues,” Mr Holmes said. He would not disclose the regions where more SS2Os had been deployed.

Asked if the summit conference between the President, Mr Ronald Reagan, and Mr Gorbachev in November could have any impact on the arms talks, Mr Holmes said, “We hope that we do not fail to take

advantage of round three and there is no reason to delay the getting on with business.” In the absence of an arms control agreement N.A.T.O. would continue deploying Pershing and cruise missiles in Europe and had so far deployed 118 of 572 missiles, he said. Diplomats said that the new Soviet figures announced by Mr Holmes yesterday may be relevant to an expected decision by the Netherlands on whether 48 American cruise missiles would be deployed there.

The Dutch Government said earlier this year that it would go ahead with the deployment in November if Moscow exceeded the number of SS2Os it had in June,