KREMLIN TO SIGN ONTO NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY?

Western diplomats indicated yesterday that Russia would sign a statement during the April 19-20 nuclear security summit that calls for a complete ban on all nuclear tests and explosions. (Reuter, April 16) If true, the action would move Moscow back into concert with its Western partners and would represent a step forward in the still problematic effort to reach agreement by the end of June on the text of a comprehensive test ban treaty. During talks March 8 at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Russia had clashed with the United States, Britain, and France on a key question of terminology in the treaty. (See Monitor, March 11) However, U.S. secretary of state Warren Christopher announced following talks in Moscow March 22 that "enormous progress" had been made on the issue and that the two sides hoped to present a common position on the treaty at the April summit.

Moscow Rejects Korean Peace Proposal.