U.S. and Soviets Forecast ‘Breakthrough’ in Iceland : Progress on Arms Curbs Expected

The Soviet Union joined the Reagan Administration today in predicting a breakthrough on curbing nuclear weapons at the mini-summit meeting in Iceland between President Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

Presidential Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan said the two days of summit talks Oct. 11-12 “could lead to a better understanding and, perhaps, some give here and there in order to reach an agreement so we get some arms reductions.”

For the Soviet Union, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov said he expects in Reykjavik “some kind of breakthrough” in the form of instructions to lower-level weapons specialists to solidify an agreement.

“It’s quite possible that we can have movement” on missiles, the Soviet official said on NBC-TV’s “Today” program. “We want . . . our leaders to put their heads together and to think big and to find some kind of direction to solve our problems.”

Secretary of State George P. Shultz, meanwhile, said Reagan had accepted Gorbachev’s proposal for a two-day, informal meeting within two weeks because “the name of the game here is to solve problems.”

Noting that a range of issues will be discussed, Shultz, interviewed on the NBC program, said, “We are in a position, I hope, to make some progress on these problems that I think all of us would want to see resolved if it’s possible to do so.”

Beyond arms control issues, Reagan and Gorbachev are likely to agree on broader cultural exchanges and expanding consular offices in the two countries, an Administration official said.

The two sides also have established “an extensive dialogue” on the guerrilla wars in five countries--Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Nicaragua--since Reagan proposed a year ago that they set up negotiations to end the conflicts, the official said.

‘Some Interesting Prospects’

Overall, “there are some interesting prospects” for the Iceland meeting, said the official, who demanded anonymity.

He said Reagan will press Gorbachev to allow more Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. The exodus is at a two-year low.

Reagan and Gorbachev also are expected to take up the U.S. order to expel 105 Soviet diplomats over the next two years. As part of the deal that brought American reporter Nicholas S. Daniloff home, Shultz extended for two weeks today’s deadline for 25 to depart.

Gerasimov said the dispute over the order, which the Soviets say is illegal and could lead to retaliation, will be resolved at Reykjavik.

Regan, appearing on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America,” said he did not think any agreement would be signed by the President and Gorbachev in Iceland.

Better Understanding

“I am not trying to hype this meeting to that extent,” he said. “But I do think that an exchange of views between them could lead to a better understanding and perhaps some give here and give there in order to reach an agreement so we can get some arms reductions, some progress in human relations, lessening of tensions throughout the world.”

As Reagan toured the newly opened Jimmy Carter presidential library in Atlanta today, the President was asked about concern among his supporters that he would give away too much at the summit in Iceland.

“I’m not in the give-away business,” Reagan replied.

Asked about critics who charged that he surrendered to the Soviets in exchanging Daniloff for Gennady F. Zakharov, the Soviet physicist who had been arrested and charged with spying in the United States, Reagan said, “The ones who are saying that are members of your profession,” referring to reporters.