Gorbachev Seeks to Ease Mediterranean Tension

Kremlin leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev announced proposals Wednesday to reduce tension in the Mediterranean, which he described as “one of the most explosive regions in the world.”

Addressing the Yugoslav Parliament on the third day of an official visit to this country, Gorbachev also acknowledged that “unfounded accusations” by Josef Stalin against Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito in 1948 had inflicted great damage.

Gorbachev, the first Soviet leader to address the Belgrade assembly, pointed his remarks at Yugoslav concerns, notably accusing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of seeking a military buildup on its southern flank to compensate for the treaty to scrap medium-range nuclear missiles.

He said he wants to supplement previous Soviet ideas for reducing military tensions in the Mediterranean area with three proposals:

--The number of Soviet and U.S. ships and the naval potential of the two countries should be frozen from July 1 this year and ceilings set on their levels thereafter.

--The Soviet Union and the United States could give each other advance warning on any movements of warships and naval exercises and could invite observers to the maneuvers.

--Mediterranean and other interested countries could draft measures to ensure the security of shipping, “especially in international straits,” with full Soviet support.