European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 9, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday december 9, 19b8 the stars and stripes Page 3 nato ministers Call for Overall limit on arms in Europe Hail soviet move by David Tarrant staff writer Brussels Belgium nato foreign ministers on thursday proposed substantial reductions in conventional offensive arms in Europe including cuts that would reduce the total number of tanks by almost half. The proposal which would affect members of both nato and he Warsaw pad came a Day after soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev announced substantial unilateral troop and arms reductions. The nato proposal released on the first Day of a two Day meeting of foreign ministers of the 16-Mcm-her Atlantic Alliance noted thai the major threat to stability in Europe comes from the Large scale stockpile of conventional arms capable of offensive operations the reductions announced by the soviet Union arc a positive contribution to correcting this situation the four Page statement said. They indicate these Riou Ness with which the conventional imbalances which we have Long highlighted As a key problem of european Security Are now also addressed by the soviet  nato officials stressed thursday that the bulk of i hair proposed reductions would have to be made by the soviet Union. In a report issued last week nato estimated that the soviet Union has 17,000 tank while other Warsaw pact countries have 14,500 tanks. The soviet Union has never released official data on its  forces. We shall propose an Overall limit on the total hold Ings of armaments in  the proposal  limit should be substantially lower than existing Levels in the Case of tanks close to half. This would mean an Overall limit of about 40,000  nato has 16.424 tanks. In a speech to the United nations wednesday Gorbachev announced thai the soviet Union would unilaterally Cut its military forces by a half million troops by 1991. A total of 10.000 tanks 8.500 artillery systems and 800 combat aircraft also would be Mold Ballad the soviet Leader said. The reductions announced by Gorbachev include cutting 50,000 troops and 5,000 tanks in East Ger Many Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Nato s proposal would require the soviets to Cut twice As Many larks in Eastern Europe officials said. Our goal is far reaching nato Secretary general Manfred stir Nersain thursday. The Alliance is seek ing binding and verifiable a rec Menis which would eliminate the present conventional asymmetries. These would provide a durable basis for improved Security in  the announcement came As nato prepared for a new round of conventional arms talks in Vienna aus Tria set to begin Early next year. Gorbachev s startling announcement was expected to put pressure on the Western Alliance to move quickly during the negotiations. To that end. Guidelines Are being worked out Forl a Low up talks to the current stalled negotiations in Vienna however disagreements among some of the euro Pean allies about the role of non aligned countries in die talks called the conventional stability talks or Cost have threatened to delay the Start of the negotiations. But . Officials speaking on the condition of anonymity said the chief obstacles id the new talks have been removed. They said the talks should go ahead As planned in Early january. Conventional weapons encompass a Broad variety of arms but generally include any non nuclear non chemical weapon. In a comparison of conventional forces stationed in Europe nato recently release data showing that the Warsaw pact holds a 3-to-l advantage in Battle tanks and artillery a Welt As a 2-to-Tadvantage in combat aircraft. The nato statement also spelled oui thai no country should be Able to hold More than fixed proportion of the total holdings of arms in each equipment category limits should be placed on the number of forces stationed by any nation on another nation s territory. Measures should be taken to increase stability i Europe including More detailed information about military exercises and greater openness and predictability about military activities. Both sides should provide rigorous and reliable verification of reductions in troops the right to con duct on Silc Insp Clinus and periodic Exchange of data about forces and deployments. The nato proposal would not address combat air Craft because they arc not necessarily offensive weapons officials said. A . Official said thursday there was some con Cern about the Impact of Gorbachev s announcement on Public opinion in the West and particularly in Europe. Realistically you have to be concerned that there would be a lessening of the perception of Hie threat before that threat had actually declined he said. Gorbachev flies Home to direct quake Relief by the associated press Mikhail s. Gorbachev headed for Home Friday to Cope with the crisis of a devastating earthquake expressing Confidence that superpower relations were on track alter a Summit with president Reagan and presi Dent elect Bush. The american leaders expressed condolences and offered . Assistance. Gorbachev standing on a windswept runway at John f. Kennedy International Airport said his talks with Reagan and Bush in new York on wednesday and by Telephone Friday made him confident that our relations will expand and improve on the basis of to or ration on the basis of Mutual respect Fortach others interests the soviet Leader said the Road ahead will be Tough but we will go  soviet optic its said Gorbachev Cut Short his new York visit and scrapped stops in Cuba and Britain because of an earthquake in soviet Armenia that killed thousands of people Gorbachev said there were extremely grave consequences devastation and great loss of life. 1 urgently have to return to the soviet Union.". During a visit of less than is hours in Manhattan Gorbachev Drew Praise from Reagan and Bush for his announcement of a unilateral. Too of Nian reduction in soviet troops and cutbacks in artillery tanks and planes. Expressing gratitude to Reagan and Bush for . Offers of earthquake help Gorbachev said i would like 10 thank them and thank the american people for Hose feelings and for their readiness to give assistance in this difficult  Reagan in his Farewell Telephone Call expressed deep personal sorrow Over the earthquake tragedy. The president speaking from his second floor living quarters in the while House Alio told Gorbachev that hair. Meeting on wednesday was very useful i for boils ids 1. -. He expressed concern Over the magnitude of he soviet loss. If Here is any Way we can be of assist Ance either bilaterally or through the International Community please let me know Reagan said. His comments were relayed to the press by White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater. Nancy Reagan also spoke with Raisa Gorbachev expressing sorrow Over the quake and saying she and the president Hope to Sec the Gorbachev again Catherin California or the soviet Union soviet officials said Gorbachev was returning homely direct Relief efforts after the quake in Armenia that produced casualties numbering in the thousands. That meant junking an elaborately planned Day of sight Sec Ingin new York  strips to Cuba and England Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife Ralsa Ware goodbye at Kennedy Airport before flying Home on Friday. That had been on the schedule for later in the week. British prime minister Margaret Thatcher standing outside 10 Downing Street win the soviet ambassador Rio London endorsed Gorbachev s decision of Cut off his trip. Obviously his place is at Home Al this time Thatcher said. At least one event planned for the soviet Leader went on without him. A soviet Trade show opened with goods ranging from Vodka and furs to fruits on display Viktor Kamon Tosev a Deputy soviet Premier opened the show along with c. William verily the us. Secretary of Commerce -.". Gorbachev was making his Hasty exit from new York while Western leaders were trying to digest his announcement of a Cut of 500,000 troops including withdrawal of 50,000 from  -.-. Reagan and Bush both heartily embraced the announcement when it was made on wednesday. Secretary of slate George p. Shulti met Friday with nato allies to try to persuade them to insist on fur ther cutbacks in soviet troops in Europe beyond those Gorbachev has offered to withdraw  Ger Many Czechoslovakia and Hungary. In his Farewell meeting with the 15 foreign rain i sirs Shu in hoped to keep the allies focused on the 2 to i manpower Edge . Officials say  pad still enjoys. .-.-. V Gorbachev s Early departure was an unexpected ending to the soviet Leader s new York visit. He melted diplomatic Reserve