News In Brief

Soviet economic bloc plans first summit in 13 years

Leaders of the Soviet bloc's economic alliance will hold their first full-scale summit meeting in 13 years June 12, a Soviet official said Tuesday. The summit of the 35-year old Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (known as Comecon) will be Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko's first with his East European and other allies.

The Soviet Union has stressed the importance of Comecon states having integrated, long-range economic plans to cushion them against possible adverse developments such as higher fuel, energy, and materials costs.

Comecon's full members are the USSR, Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, and Vietnam.