Better atmosphere for talks needed — Gorbachev

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 10

Better atmosphere for talks needed — Gorbachev

NZPA-AP Potsdam The Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, says he is amenable to a summit meeting in the United States this year if the United States Government changes policies that he says are “poisoning the atmosphere.” He said in Potsdam yesterday that “the meeting (with President Ronald Reagan) can take place if the United States realises that it is necessary to take this path.”

“But if it (the United States) goes on acting as it is today, trying to poison the atmosphere, this will throw a shadow over any future meeting. If it (the summit meeting) is to happen, a better atmosphere is necessary.” Mr Gorbachev did not elaborate, but he appeared to be referring to the United States raid on Libya and recent American nuclear weapons tests. Messrs Reagan and

Gorbachev agreed at Geneva in November to meet this year in Washington. No date has been set. The American Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, and the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Eduard Shevardnadze were to meet next month to discuss preparations for the summit meeting, but the Soviets cancelled the meeting in response to the United States raid on Libya.