Both sides optimistic about nuclear test talks

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 10

Both sides optimistic about nuclear test talks

NZPA-Reuter Geneva

The United States and the Soviet Union believe they can agree on nuclear test verification measures when talks aimed at limiting the size of underground explosions resume in Geneva today.

The new round will be the first since President George Bush took office in January but chief United States negotiator, Paul Robinson, says Washington’s negotiating position remains substantially the same as during Ronald Reagan’s Administration.

The talks began in November, 1987, but were interrupted last December with the two sides failing to agree on the wording of agreements to limit underground tests to 150 kilotons.

Both sides now say an accord is close. Mr Robinson said surprising progress was achieved last year. “We are in substantially better shape than most (arms control) talks,” he told the Geneva United States mission’s Daily Bulletin recently.

The Chief Soviet delegate, Igor Palenykh, told reporters on Saturday that

Washington and Moscow had significantly narrowed their differences, adding, “We are entering the last stretch.”

The two super-Powers have already signed the Threshold Test Ban Treaty of 1974 and the Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaty of 1976, limiting to 150 kilotons the size of military and civilian underground blasts. Although the two countries abide by them, the accords have yet to be ratified because of American concerns that the 15kiloton limit could not be adequately verified,

tiators will discuss new technology developed by both sides to monitor blasts. When the talks went into recess the two sides were completing verification protocols to be attached to the two unratified treaties after successful United States-Soviet joint nuclear test explosions. '

The tests, known as Joint Verification Experiments, were carried out at the Navada test site in August, 1988, and at the Soviet ground at Semipalatinsk the following month.

American sources say the protocols will cover verification techniques that both sides would be free to use to measure future nuclear tests.

They will also allow one side to attend a test blast following notification from the other that the test’s yield was to be above a certain level.

American sources said that by the end of 1988 the civilian protocol was near completion but the military one required further negotiation. They will eventually go to the United States Senate for

approval as a single package.

Mr Palenykh reaffirmed the Soviet Union’s goal in the negotiations remained a total test ban. American officials say Washington wants to continue nuclear testing as long as it feels it is needed to maintain international security.

Mr Robinson and Mr Palenykh will hold a private meeting today and the first full plenary session is scheduled for tomorrow. American officials say the session should last about six weeks.