Foreign Relations of the United States, 1989–1992, Volume XXXI, START I, 1989–1991

188. Telegram From the Delegation to the Nuclear and Space Talks in Geneva to the Department of State¹

00241.

Geneva, January 10, 1991, 1757Z

SUBJECT

• START: Soviet Response to Baker Letter

1. This is Blackbird—031. Secret—Entire Text.

2. Late on Thursday, January 10, Nazarkin called me from Moscow. He said he would return to Geneva Saturday night and that his return had been delayed by working on the Soviet response to Secretary Baker’s letter of January 4.²

3. Nazarkin said that Shevardnadze’s response was not yet completed and he was not absolutely certain when it would be delivered. Based on decisions made thus far, however, Nazarkin said it was “safe to say” that the United States would be “fully satisfied” with the response. In addition, Nazarkin said, he had spent time working on issues not included in the Houston package and had been successful in getting approval to offer appropriate compromises.

4. Nazarkin said that he hoped that the Shevardnadze response would clear the way for high level meetings (i.e., Bartholomew-Obukhov) in Geneva next week.

5. I will meet Nazarkin early Monday³ and should have a readout for Washington at open of business Washington time Monday morning.

Burt

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N910001–0132. Secret; Niact; Immediate; Nodis. Sent via the Blackbird channel.
2. See Document 185.
3. January 14.