Gorbachev Says He Will Step Up Pace of Reform

Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev said today that mistrust between East and West was crumbling before the pressure of democratic change.

In a clear reference to reforms sweeping Eastern Europe, Gorbachev and Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti called in a joint political declaration for democracy in every society.

“In some countries an in-depth and courageous revision of both domestic and foreign policies is under way, and changes toward democracy are taking place,” they said.

“Under the pressure of these factors, the curtain of mistrust between the East and the West is crumbling,” the declaration added.

It was signed after talks between the two leaders on the second day of Gorbachev’s visit to Italy.

Earlier, as he entered the talks in the renaissance Villa Madama overlooking Rome, Gorbachev told reporters his reform of Soviet society was facing great difficulties and he appealed for more cooperation from the West so military expenditure could be cut.

But he said he would step up the pace of reform.

He said: “Now we are going through the most difficult phase because we have entered a period which I would call one of profound transformation. Not everything is going easily and there are difficulties, but there are no roads for turning back.

“We are going to forge ahead and step up the pace of reforms.”

He said through an interpreter he wanted to improve the quality of Soviet life. “In order to achieve this, we would like to see more favorable external conditions to enable us to reduce military expenditure.”