
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 26, 1994                   TAG: 9405260079
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM                                LENGTH: Short

RUSSIA SEEKS BROAD TALKS WITH NATO

Russia proposed Wednesday beginning wide-ranging talks with NATO on such issues as nuclear proliferation and the environment.

The proposal came one day after Russia announced it would join NATO's Partnership for Peace program.

Russian Defense Minister Pavel Grachev did not make his proposal a condition for Russia's joining the Partnership for Peace program, which was set up by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization five months ago to provide an opportunity for closer links with former East bloc countries.

The Western response was lukewarm at best. Although the NATO defense ministers seemed relieved that Russia had not set conditions for its entry into the program, they seemed cool to the notion of broader talks.

Grachev also listed defense conversion and disarmament as possible topics in any broader talks.

Russia would be the 19th former East bloc nation to join Partnership for Peace.

by CNB