U.S., Soviets Expected to Join in Anti-Terror Effort, Paper Says

The United States and the Soviet Union are expected to exchange letters pledging joint action against international terrorism, the Sunday Times of London reported.

“Secret talks have been going on between the two countries for the past month, and an exchange of letters pledging action against kidnapping and hijacking is expected before Christmas,” the newspaper said.

Quoting sources close to the negotiations, the Sunday Times said a superpower agreement on cooperation against hijackings and hostage crises would be followed by a U.N. resolution condemning international terrorism, which Moscow is likely to support.

“The agreement will mark a significant advance in the fight against terrorism,” the newspaper said. “In the past, the Soviet Union has refused to cooperate in combatting terrorism, in part because the Eastern Bloc suffered less from terrorism and in part because the Russians see such groups as legitimate ‘revolutionaries.’ ”

Diplomats recalled Soviet interest in such cooperation increased when four Soviet diplomats were kidnaped recently in Beirut. One of the envoys was killed and the three others were released after weeks of captivity.

“While the exchange of letters and a U.N. vote will not seriously undermine the ability of the terrorists to operate, it is hoped that the agreement will provide a basis on which to discuss more concrete matters such as sharing intelligence and depriving terrorists of arms supplies and training facilities,” the newspaper said.

In Washington, a State Department spokeswoman said she was unaware of the reported agreement.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said Sunday that Britain would welcome such an initiative.

“The prime minister has gone on the record a number of times as saying better international cooperation is needed to combat international terrorism. This sort of thing falls well into that kind of thinking,” the spokesman said.