U.S., Soviets End Latest Round of Talks on Limiting Nuclear Weapons Testing

The United States and Soviet Union closed a fourth and inconclusive round of talks on limiting nuclear testing Friday but agreed to meet again in two months.

Officials on both sides said there had been no substantive progress on breaking a deadlock in opposing positions, and a U.S. spokesman said delegates agreed to open a fifth session May 18.

A U.S. delegation statement said the latest talks had been positive and provided “a clearer understanding of positions.”

It reiterated that Washington “is prepared to immediately begin negotiations on effective verification protocols” for test limitation accords signed more than a decade ago but never ratified.

Positions Unchanged

The talks began last July, with second and third rounds in September and November. The latest round began Jan. 22, was adjourned Feb. 10 and resumed for one week March 16.

A Soviet official blamed Washington for blocking substantive progress by rejecting immediate negotiations on banning all tests.

Moscow maintained its demand for formal negotiations on a complete nuclear test ban via phased reductions in the number and size of underground explosions, the Soviet official said.

Washington similarly held to its original position that improved verification measures must first be agreed to permit ratification of old agreements of 1974 and 1976.