Afghanistan Fades as an Issue in Shevardnadze, Shultz Talks

Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze and U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz discussed human rights and regional conflicts today, but reached no breakthroughs despite a “constructive atmosphere” and less contention over Afghanistan.

Last week’s signing of an accord setting a May 15 start for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan “certainly has been a positive development,” said State Department spokesman Charles E. Redman.

He said the apparent improvement in the Afghanistan situation made that issue less contentious, but that the war and its consequences were not a “closed book.” Questions of monitoring the pullout and helping Afghan refugees continue to confront U.S. and Soviet officials, he said.

Both Redman and Foreign Ministry spokesman Vadim Perfiliev praised the mood at the talks between Shultz and Shevardnadze, who have been meeting monthly since February in preparation for the Moscow summit meeting that begins May 29.

Perfiliev described the exchanges as being held in “a constructive atmosphere,” and Redman said the ministers have made it their practice to get down to serious work on the issues that divide them.

“I would say that as always there is a good atmosphere at the talks,” Redman said.

A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the meetings had produced “a modicum of progress” on several fronts.