Jaruzelski Visits Gorbachev, Reaffirms Support for Soviet Leader’s Reforms

Polish leader Wojciech Jaruzelski and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev on Tuesday signed a declaration of cooperation reinforcing Polish support for Gorbachev’s policy of reform and liberalization.

The official Tass news agency said the two leaders met in the Kremlin for talks on bilateral relations on the 42nd anniversary of the Polish-Soviet treaty of friendship and cooperation.

The new agreement covers ideological, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two Communist nations.

Jaruzelski, who arrived in Moscow in the morning, has been one of the East European leaders most receptive to Gorbachev’s economic and political reform campaign in the Soviet Union, and he reaffirmed his support for the reorganization plan.

“The Polish public welcomes with an enthusiastic and well-wishing interest the deep-running transformations in the Soviet Union and a creatively inspiring way of thinking and style of activity. This, too, is a substantive factor making our friendship stronger,” he said in a luncheon speech.

Gorbachev has been actively campaigning for support among East Bloc allies for his policies of reform and liberalization in the Soviet Union. The new declaration indicated firm Polish support for the campaign.