Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 11, 1990 TAG: 9005110752
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: BARRY SCHWEID ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The president is aiming for an agreement with Moscow - provided he gets it on his terms - to sharply reduce U.S. and Soviet stockpiles of poison gas.
But the reason Bush is making the move now is that other arms control accords are proving to be elusive as the May 30-June 3 summit approaches.
And Bush wants to be able to do some serious business with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev or the two leaders could be accused of unproductive posturing.
Months ago, when the summit was scheduled, it looked like an agreement could be ready to reduce long-range nuclear missiles, bombers and submarines.
Only wild optimists expected a finished treaty for Bush and Gorbachev to sign. The issues are complex.
But considering the Soviet leader's determination to cut nuclear arms and Bush's positive response after an initial delay, the plan was to celebrate the summit with a strategic arms agreement-in-principle on key issues.
Bush and Gorbachev would initial the framework accord, and up to 50 percent of the most dangerous weapons in the world would be consigned to the scrap heap after U.S. and Soviet negotiators in Geneva worked out the details.
But with Gorbachev due here in less than three weeks, the two sides are still far apart.
For example: they have agreed-tentatively to eliminate land-based ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. But the Soviets want to extend the ban to such missiles carried by submarines. That is an area of U.S. strength, and the administration is balking.
The Soviets also want to make deeper cuts in air-launched cruise missiles than the administration is willing to accept. The reason is the Pentagon plans a new missile above the cutoff range proposed by Moscow.
Negotiations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact have also slowed in Vienna on another treaty to reduce troops, tanks and other non-nuclear arms in Europe.
The plan was to have the heads of 35 countries, including Bush and Gorbachev, sign the treaty at a European summit before the end of the year. There is still some hope of reaching that goal.
But Bush's prediction last June that the treaty would be ready by now is falling flat.
The picture could change when Secretary of State James Baker III holds talks in Moscow next week with Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze, although they failed to make serious headway only last week in Bonn.
Thus, a chemical weapons accord looms as the most promising candidate for the Bush-Gorbachev summit, though it is not a cinch either.
by CNB