ABSTRACT
The comments of Victor Karpov are welcomed, as are the many positive developments in the USSR’s position in recent times. This chapter considers a number of issues raised by Karpov. Further, to make early progress in the areas where there can be the least dispute about what needs to be done, we need to focus on the pressing issue of asymmetries in those major assets that can seize and hold ground in Europe. Maritime and air assets are highly mobile, often relenting to worldwide rather than European issues, and not easily dealt with on a regional basis. The agreement on the mandate for the negotiations in Vienna underlines the favorable situation that now exists in Europe for conventional disarmament. Central Europe has to play a special role in such a process of change. Foreign Minister Shevardnadze has declared that the tank divisions to be withdrawn from Eastern Europe and to be disbanded would take their nuclear delivery means with them.
