Cheney Scolds Soviets on Europe Arms Treaty

U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney on Monday attacked what he called Soviet intransigence over a treaty reducing conventional forces in Europe, hinting that it could jeopardize a planned superpower summit.

Cheney told French television during a visit to Paris that “there is a whole series of problems still to be solved” on the conventional forces in Europe and strategic arms reduction treaties under discussion between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Asked if a summit between President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev would take place in July, Cheney replied:

“Summits must produce something. The disarmament agenda is important. In this domain we have been very perturbed by the intransigence of the Soviets and their interpretation of the CFE treaty.”

The conventional treaty, signed by leaders of 22 countries in Paris last November, essentially forces the Soviet Union to surrender its advantage over the West in land-based tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery.

Moscow has insisted that some weapons are excluded from the treaty because it covers land-based forces and not navies.

“There may be a summit in the near future, but no date has been fixed,” Cheney said Monday. “Everything will depend on our ability to organize a productive summit.”

Meanwhile, France made clear Monday that it wants a stronger European role in military security on the Continent but assured Cheney it is not challenging North Atlantic Treaty Organization control.

Cheney met French leaders to press for support of a NATO plan for a 70,000-member multinational force to protect the alliance’s 16 member countries. The force would include U.S. attack aircraft and helicopters.