CHERNENKO ON US-SOVIET RELATIONS

Created: 6/15/1984

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DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE4 Chernenko on US-Soviet Relations

Two press interviewspeech upon the conclusion of the CEMA Summit this week are the latestecent flurry of statements by Soviet leader Chernenko.

-- Since early May, statements and appearances by

Chernenko have been featured prominently in Soviet media, perhapsoncerted effort to build up his status for both foreign and domestic audiences.

Chernenko's interviews and authoritative press editorials have offered little new in either tone or substance on US-Sov1et relations and on the prospects for renewed nuclear arms negotiations.

They areine with Moscow's current practice of rejecting US efforts toialogue and of dramatizing the poor state of bilateral relations.

3 June Pravda Interview Chernenko dismissed US appeals for renewed arms control talks as an election year tactic. He reiterated the now familiar call that Washingtonenlune readiness for talks through "concrete actions." While acknowledging In principle the value of negotiations, he contended that US missile deploymentsurope were increasingly blocking the possibility of talks. Negotiations would be possible, he said, if the US withdrew Its "essentially preemptory conditions" for talks.

He did not, however, explicitly call for the removal of US missiles from Europe.

-- Nor did he make reference to President Reagan's

offer to discuss the principle of non-use of forcehe Stockholm Conference.

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In his Prayda interview Chernenko also alluded to the IssueS-Soviet summit, stating that Moscow was readyany moment" to engageialogue provided that the talks wereoviet spokesman Zamaytin reiterated on Thursday that Chernenko wouldummit, but he said that it would require careful preparation and thatot of demands" would have to met.

These references to summit conditions may be intended to increase perceived political pressures on the President at home to reduce tensions with Moscow.

Chernenko's interviewune Pravda editorial, which provided Moscow's authoritative response to the President's Irish Parliament speech.

The editorial dismissed US willingness to discuss the non-use of force principle as representingsemblance" of readiness for talks.

Chernenko's Interview also singled out Soviet proposals on outer space arms control, claiming that they had been submitted to Washington and that the US had no interestialogue on this subject.

Moscow's statements alleging the US Intends tospace and urging ASAT limitations probably are intended to influence Congressional deliberations on ASAT weaponry and probably reflect concern about the US ASAT program and strategic defense initiative.

Apparent Soviet preoccupation with the ASAT issue also was reflected2 June Chernenko Interview In Izvestlyahich he responded to an American journalist's questions.

Chernenko reiterated Moscow's unilateral moratorium on launching ASAT weapons, whichonditioned on other countries refraining from placing such weapons in space.

e proposed, would be "only the first step"otal ban on ASAT weapons.

-- He called for "official" talks toediately.

-- He rejected the US contention that verification of such an accord was not possible and alluded for the first time to the use of radars and other electronic collectors in monitoring compliance.

Annex of Recent Soviet Statements

7 June Pravda. "Serious Approach Still Unsighted."

he US president failed to mention that "Washingtonaking Western Europetage setuclear war, putting ever new first-strike nuclear systems into full scale production, lavishing billions of dollars on militarizing outer space and refusing to hold any talks to curb the arms race."

In short, the West Europeans as well as the American voters were regaled with another portion of pseudopeaceful rhetoric."

Asnown, and this was confirmed by the NATO

council's recent session, no changes have occurredashington's stance on nuclear armamentsurope."

What kind of talks would that be? They would not be concerned with the mutual reduction of armaments but with NATO's The Soviet Union will not agree to such talks."

The President is apparently striving to createemblance of US readiness for talks on non-use of force. But this Isemblance. In reality, the American representatives at Stockholm are unwilling to discuss this Issue today."

The President's new European speech has been

definately conceivediew to calming down the West Europeans andemblance ofn the conditions of election struggle in the US."

une Izvestlya. Chernenko answers to question from American journalist Kingsbury-Smith.

The votehe House of Representatives clearly reflects concern over the possibility of the arms race spreading toither the militarization of spaceverted, or space will become the sourceerrible danger hanging over all mankind."

Last year the USSR unilaterallyommitment not to place ASAT weapons in space,ther words, a

unilateral moratorium on such launches, as long as other states, the US Included, refrain from placing any type of ASAT weaponspace."

This moratorium remains in force, andnly the first stepotal ban on ASAT weapons. Including the elimination of such systems that already exist. Itrecisely for this reason that we are suggesting to the US that official talks begin immediatelyrder to reach an agreement on this.'

The Soviet Uniononvinced that monitoring a

freeze on ASAT weapons test is possible and moreover is extremely reliable above all through national technical means"

Effectiveould be ensured by means of tracking objects in It would also be possible to use other radloelectronic facilities stationed on the ground, in the worlds oceans, and In In uncertain situations an exchange of Information and consultations could be effected. Should the need arise, other forms also could be

"Any questions, including questions of monitoring, could be successfully solved during the talks being proposed by the Soviet Union."

une, Chernenko answers the Pravda on London Summit.

Again the Soviet Union was urged to engageialogue and Regrettably, however, these intentions and appeals failed to be backed up with anything tangible. Why? Itonsiderations connected with the US presidential elections."

"The dialogue and talks are mentioned since they need a screen to somehow cover up the transformation of Western Europeaunching pad for new US missiles. The line of missile deployment remains. and thisncreasingly blocking the possibility of talks."

Iseedialogue and for talks? Both yesterday and today our answer has been the same--Yes. ialogue whichonest, and talks that are serious. In these we stand ready to engage at any moment."

"We hold that these Issues be consideredarnest at the negotiating table as soon as the American side withdraws its essentially preemptory conditions for talks."

ill single out as an example the problem of preventing the militarization of space. Our proposals on how to resolve this problem have been submitted to Washington. But it does not want to handle this problem,oes not want even to discuss it."

"In all likelihood the US administration is fond only of its own ambitious stance whose essencepening outer space to formidable armaments and thus trying to gain military superiority. We do noteciprocal desire for solid talks."

"It is high time the US and its allies confirmed by concrete deeds their share of the responsibility fornd display genuine readiness for The USSR Is not wanting in such readiness."

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