Gorbachev Wins Praise from Carter

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England — Former President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev is the world’s most innovative leader, to whom people look for progress in curbing nuclear weapons.

“There is no doubt Mr. Gorbachev is perhaps the most striking, interesting and innovative leader on earth,” Carter told a news conference here on his way home from a private visit to the Soviet Union, where he conferred with the Soviet leader.

“The whole world is looking to him to make beneficial changes in the Soviet Union and also between the Soviets and other nations in tighter constraints on arms and nuclear weapons,” Carter said.

He said that arms talks have been hindered by disagreement over on-site inspection of nuclear installations but that the Soviets now appear willing to allow inspections.