Soviets Seek West’s Technology to Speed Free-Market Reform

The Soviet Union made a strong pitch Tuesday for Western help in its free-market reform by asking for talks to ease restrictions on the sale of high technology.

Stepan Sitaryan, chairman of the State Foreign Economic Commission, said such Western limits “should no longer remain a sacred cow.”

Sitaryan also hailed an international accord, reached Monday in Bonn, that commits the Soviets to backing free-market economic reform. He said the pact conforms to President Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s reform program, known as perestroika.

“Many of the decisions and recommendations contained in the Bonn document . . . have a direct bearing on the economic renewal in the Soviet Union,” Sitaryan said in a speech to the 35-nation Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The conference ends today.

Sitaryan said the West’s so-called COCOM restrictions on high-technology sales to Eastern Europe present “certain complications” to restructuring the Soviet economy. COCOM stands for the 17-nation Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls.

“We propose that East-West consultations begin on rules to govern the transfer of dual-purpose technology,” Sitaryan told reporters after his speech, referring to products and equipment that can be used for civilian or military purposes.

He said the Soviet Union is willing to agree to inspection procedures so the West can verify that high-technology equipment is not being used for military purposes.

The COCOM nations are already working on proposals for loosening restrictions on technology sales to reforming East Bloc countries. However, the United States has indicated it will take a tougher stand toward the Soviet Union.

In Monday’s pact, the 35 nations at the conference--the United States, Canada and all European countries except Albania--informally endorsed a document committing them to support private property, free enterprise and multi-party democracy.