Powell Arrives in Moscow, Discusses Military Conversions

Gen. Colin L. Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Moscow on Monday and discussed converting military plants to civilian use.

Powell, who arrived to a full honor guard, met with Gen. Mikhail Moiseyev, chief of the Soviet armed forces general staff, during his visit as part of a military exchange that began in 1988.

“We talked about a variety of matters, including military conversion and the doctrine of armed forces in the Soviet Union,” Powell told reporters.

“When two infantrymen get together, they always have much to talk about,” he added.

Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri T. Yazov, waiting to meet Powell, told reporters the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is a significant step toward ending the arms race.

The treaty on long-range nuclear missiles, which will cut warheads by about a half, is expected to be signed by Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev and President Bush during their summit meeting in Moscow next week.

Powell said the two countries have made much progress toward reducing the arms race. “The more we debate, the more we talk, the better off we are,” he said.

Powell later discussed the summit with Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander A. Bessmertnykh. He may hold talks with Gorbachev before leaving Moscow for the Soviet Far East Friday.