FINLAND: A RECEPTION FOR RUSSIAN AND UNITED STATES DELEGATES AFTER THE OPENING SESSION OF THE S.A.L.T. TALKS

Record ID: 337101

  • Title: FINLAND: A RECEPTION FOR RUSSIAN AND UNITED STATES DELEGATES AFTER THE OPENING SESSION OF THE S.A.L.T. TALKS
  • Date: 18th November 1969
  • Summary: MR. KARJALAINEN GREETING RUSSIAN DELEGATES: MR. SEMENOV MEETING GUESTS; MR. SMITH MEETING GUESTS; MR. SEMENOV AND MR. SMITH SHAKING HANDS. Initials RJ/V/PW/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HELSINKI, FINLAND
  • Country: Finland
  • Reuters ID: LVA61LWP39K35YLKG5VZ1QFS1OC2
  • Story Text: UNITED STATES AND SOVIET NEGOTIATORS MET FOR ONE-AND-A-HALF-HOURS IN HELSINKI YESTERDAY (MONDAY) IN THE FIRST BUSINESS SESSION OF THEIR VITAL STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATION TALKS (S.A.L.T.) AIMED AT HALTING THE ARMS RACE BETWEEN THE TWO WORLD POWERS. AFTER THE TALKS THE CHIEF AMERICAN NEGOTIATOR, MR. GERARD C. SMITH, AND HIS SOVIET COUNTERPART, MR. VLADIMIR SEMENOV, TALKED INFORMALLY AT A COCKTAIL PARTY GIVEN BY THE FINNISH FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. AHTI KARJALAINEN.

    THE S.A.L.T. TALKS BEGAN AFTER TWO-AND-A-HALF-HOURS OF BACKSTAGE EFFORTS. MR. SMITH READ OUT A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NIXON PROCLAIMING THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS READY FOR BONA FIDE NEGOTIATIONS ON CONCRETE ISSUES IN HELSINKI. IN REPLY, MR. SEMENOV SAID HIS COUNTRY WAS HOPEFUL THAT AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WOULD DEVELOP IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER AND LAY THE BASIS FOR FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS.

    THE FIRST SESSION CAME 45-MINUTES AFTER THE FORMAL OPENING BY MR. KARJALAINEN IN THE GOVERNMENT BANQUETING HALL. SPOKESMEN FOR BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION MADE IT CLEAR THAT LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE TALKS WAS LIKELY TO BE DIVULGED.
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