CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENTCD/658 20 August 1985 ENGLISH Original: RUSSIAN LETTER DATED 19 AUGUST 1985 ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS TRANSMITTING THE ANSWERS BY MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CPSU CENTRAL COMMITTEE, TO A TASS CORRESPONDENT PUBLISHED ON 14 AUGUST 1985 I have the honour to transmit herewith the text of the answers given by M.S. Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, to questions from a TASS correspondent and published on 14 August 1985. I should be grateful if you would arrange for this material to be circulated as an official document of the Conference on Disarmament. V. Issraelyan GE.85-65864 CD/658 page 2 ANSWERS BY M.S. GORBACHEV TO QUESTIONS FROM A TASS CORRESPONDENT Question : How would you rate the reaction in the world to the new Soviet initiative, the introduction of a moratorium on nuclear explosions? Answer : If you mean the mood of the public at large, I think there is every reason to say that the new initiative by the Soviet Union, which has unilaterally halted all nuclear explosions and has called upon the United States to join in that action, has been welcomed in the world. In many countries, including the United States, eminent statesmen, politicians and public figures are expressing support for the idea of a moratorium on nuclear weapon testing, for the following of the Soviet Union's example by the other nuclear Powers. Our proposal concerns a specific, tangible measure. People see in it a hope for the slowing and later the halting of the nuclear arms race. I know that our initiative is not to everyone's liking. Those in the West who have linked their policy to the further acceleration of the arms race, 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a diplomatic communication related to international relations, specifically discussing a Soviet Union initiative on nuclear disarmament. The language used is formal and official, suggesting a high-level diplomatic document. The content focuses on the reaction to a specific policy decision, rather than discussing economic, social, or environmental issues.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology