U.S. Arms Negotiator Calls Geneva Session Most Productive So Far

The chief American negotiator said Tuesday that the round of nuclear arms talks that ends today has been the most productive so far, partly because of “phenomenal agreements” reached at the U.S.-Soviet summit in Iceland.

Max M. Kampelman said the basis for the Reykjavik agreements between President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev was laid in previous sessions of the Geneva talks, which began March 12, 1985.

“The agreements are phenomenal, and they obviously were not created in Reykjavik. They were the result of 5 1/2 rounds of negotiations that took place up until Reykjavik,” he said.

Kampelman said American and Soviet negotiators made progress at the sixth round in all three fields covered in Geneva: medium-range missiles; long-range, or strategic, nuclear weapons, and space and defense systems.

In an interview Tuesday, Kampelman said: “The agreements in Reykjavik as translated here have narrowed the gap between us. We still have a gap to narrow further, and we still have serious significant differences of opinion, and differences of interest.

“But when I look at the round and see all that has been accomplished here, I have to say this is the most productive round we’ve had.”

The United States feels an arms control agreement could be reached in the next year if each side makes a serious effort, he said.

Agreement is nearest on medium-range missiles, Kampelman said, noting that Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to eliminate them in Europe and retain 100 warheads each on U.S. and Soviet territory.

“This means in effect a 100% reduction in Soviet SS-20s in Europe and an 80% reduction of Soviet SS-20s in Asia,” he said, calling that a “very significant agreement.”