25 Russians told to go

Press, 19 September 1986, Page 6

25 Russians told to go

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The United States ordered the Soviet Union yesterday to remove 25 people from its United Nations mission by October 1. It denied that the order was related to the detention in Moscow of the American journalist, Nicholas Daniloff.

A State Department spokesman Bernard Kalb, said that on March 7 the Reagan Administration had said that Moscow

should reduce its mission because it was too big and because of growing evidence it was engaged in spying. Asked about previous, statements by Administration officials that the move would be the first retaliation for Daniloff’s detention on spying charges, he said, “It is not related to any other issue or case.” Officials had said the naming of the 25, and the Administration’s insist-

ence that they leave despite Soviet objections that the move was illegal, was meant to display Administration resolve over Daniloffs arrest.. Mr Kalb said the Soviet Union had rebuffed repeated United States requests to co-operate in reducing the size of its mission by 105 members to 170 over three years. “As a result the United States is obliged to take steps of its own to ensure compliance,” he said.