Moscow, 2 Baltic Nations Form Ties

MOSCOW — The Soviet Union officially set up diplomatic ties Wednesday with Lithuania and Estonia, two of the three Baltic republics that became independent after the failed August coup.

Soviet Foreign Minister Boris D. Pankin and his counterparts, Algirdas Saudargas of Lithuania and Lennart Meri of Estonia, signed the documents formally establishing relations. Pankin said diplomatic ties with Latvia will be established at a later date.

The Kremlin recognized the independence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Sept. 6.

But a web of complex issues must be resolved before the Baltic states are completely free of the Soviet grasp. The most pressing problem is the withdrawal of Soviet troops.

Lithuania’s ambassador to the United Nations, Anicetas Simutis, speaking Wednesday to the General Assembly for the first time since his nation was admitted last month, called the presence of Soviet troops “utterly illegal.”