Shevardnadze Denounces Libya Incident

Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze today called the U.S.-Libyan clash over the Mediterranean “unacceptable,” and said the incident has poisoned the atmosphere of this week’s international conference on chemical warfare.

“There has been a very disagreeable incident involving Libyan planes,” Shevardnadze said after his arrival at Orly Airport the day before the start of the 140-nation conference.

“This is unacceptable. This incident poisons the atmosphere on the eve of the Paris conference,” said Shevardnadze, who is scheduled to meet Secretary of State George P. Shultz on Sunday.

“There must be no more negative complications in the Mediterranean,” he added.

Asked about U.S. claims that Libya is building a chemical weapons plant, the Soviet minister said, “I think that without proof, no government has the right to make such an accusation.”

The remarks came after Shultz spent the day seeking support from his foreign counterparts in the U.S. effort to pressure Libya into halting operations at the plant.

Shultz, who arrived a day earlier, met today with French President Francois Mitterrand, French Prime Minister Michel Rocard and the foreign ministers of France, Canada, Egypt and Sweden.

Afterward, France, Canada and Egypt joined in supporting the U.S. contentions that Libya is manufacturing poison gas in a factory southwest of Tripoli.

Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi has insisted only pharmaceuticals were being manufactured at the Rabta complex 60 miles southwest of the Libyan capital. But Shultz contends he has adequate evidence to support the U.S. allegation.

A top U.S. official said Shultz plans to brief Shevardnadze on evidence that the Libyans plan to make chemical weapons at the Rabta plant.

“He (Shultz) will tell them (the Soviets) more than they know now, but less than what our allies know,” the official said.