Soviets OK On-Site Checks in Breakthrough at Talks

STOCKHOLM — The Soviet Union today told the Stockholm security conference that it is prepared to accept some on-site inspections of military movements, marking an important breakthrough at the start of the final session of the 32-month-old talks.

“We could . . . agree to the conduct of on-site inspections,” Soviet Ambassador Oleg A. Grinevsky told the opening session.

Delegates said the 35-nation conference, after being essentially stalled since its opening in January, 1984, appeared set to reach an East-West agreement before it closes Sept. 19.

The aim of the conference is to agree on confidence-building measures to lessen the risk of war in Europe. It brings together the United States, Canada and all European countries except Albania.

A Western diplomat, who insisted on anonymity, said the Soviet turnaround on the on-site inspection issue could have “heavy implications” for other East-West disarmament talks, and could be aimed as an impetus to such talks.

Grinevsky told a news conference the Soviet Union would not refuse inspections under an agreement.

“Until the quota has been used up, we would have to accept them,” he said.

On-site inspection proposals advanced at the conference stipulated that one country could demand access to another’s territory, on a limited quota basis, to check on unannounced troop movements.