Final Communiqué

The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Brussels on 9th and 10th December 1982 and agreed as follows:

1. The Atlantic Alliance, based on the ideals and values of democracy, has through its strength and cohesion succeeded in preserving peace and independence for the free and equal members of this partnership. On this solid foundation, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed at their meeting in Bonn on 10th June 1982 the Alliance's policy of a strong defence and of East-West dialogue. Moreover, they set forth their Programme for Peace in Freedom, emphasising their resolve to develop substantial and balanced East-West relations aimed at genuine détente based on the effective application of the principles and provisions of the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
2. The Allies will maintain a firm, realistic and constructive attitude towards the Soviet Union on the basis of mutual acceptance of the principles of restraint and responsibility in the conduct of international affairs. They desire to improve relations with the member states of the Warsaw Pact and to extend areas of co-operation to their mutual benefit.

The Allies look to the Soviet leadership for tangible evidence that it shares their readiness to act in this spirit. They expect the Soviet Union to honour its obligations and to show respect for the sovereignty and independence of other states. In face of the continuing and massive Soviet arms build-up, the legitimate security concerns of the Allies remain and must be recognized. But the Allies are open to all opportunities for dialogue, will welcome any positive move to reduce tension, and desire, if Soviet attitudes allow, to co-operate in re-building international trust.

3. The violations in Poland of the Helsinki Final Act and of the Conventions of the International Labour Organization, in particular by the banning and dissolution of trade unions including Solidarity, continue to cause the gravest concern.

The Allies call upon the Polish authorities to abide by their commitment to work for national reconciliation. Recalling their declaration of 11th January 1982 (1), the criteria of which are far from being fulfilled, the Allies have noted the recent release of a number of detainees and continue to follow closely developments in Poland, including possible relaxation of military rule. They emphasize that in this regard the actions of the Polish authorities will be judged by their practical effects. The Allies consider that the improvement of relations with Poland depends on the extent to which the Polish Government gives effect to its declared intention to establish civil rights and to continue the process of reform. Freedom of association and the rights of workers to have trade unions of their own choice should not be denied to the Polish people. The dialogue with all sections of Polish society must be resumed. The Allies call on all countries to respect Poland's fundamental right to choose its own social and political structures.

4. In violation of the United Nations Charter and despite repeated calls from the General Assembly, the Islamic Conference and other international bodies, the Soviet Union continues its military occupation of Afghanistan in the face of determined resistance by the Afghan people. The Allies call upon the Soviet Union to accept a political solution which would bring an end to the sufferings of the Afghan people and allow the return to their homeland of over 3 million refugees who have been forced into exile. This solution must be based on the withdrawal of Soviet forces and respect for the independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan which would thereby be enabled to exercise its right of self determination and to return to a position of genuine non-alignment.
5. In unremitting pursuit of its military build-up, which has long passed the level required for defence, the Soviet Union is increasing its superiority in conventional arms and expanding its naval power. It is simultaneously strengthening its nuclear capability, particularly through the deployment of intermediate-range missiles. As stated in their Bonn Declaration, the Allies are left no choice but to maintain an effective military deterrent adequate to meet their legitimate security concerns in a changing situation. It therefore remains essential for the Allies to preserve the security of the North Atlantic area by means of conventional and nuclear forces adequate to deter aggression and intimidation. To that end they agree to continue their efforts towards greater co-operation in armaments and, in particular, to take full advantage of emerging technologies and to continue action in the appropriate fora restricting Warsaw Pact access to Western militarily-relevant technologies.

The presence of North American forces on the European continent and the United Stales strategic nuclear commitment to Europe are essential to Allied security. Equally important are the maintenance and continued improvement of the defence capabilities of the European members of the Alliance.

6. Arms control and disarmament together with deterrence and defence are integral parts of Alliance security policy and important means of promoting international stability and peace.

Firmly committed to progress over arms control and disarmament, the Allies have initiated a comprehensive series of proposals for militarily significant, equitable and verifiable agreements, which are designed to lead to a balance of forces at lowest possible levels. They seek from the Soviet Union a constructive and serious approach in current negotiations.

6. In the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START), the Allies fully support the efforts of the United States to negotiate with the Soviet Union significant reductions in United States and Soviet strategic forces emphasising the most destabilizing systems in the first phase of the negotiations. The Allies urge the Soviet Union to contribute in a concrete way to speedy progress in these important negotiations.
7. The Allies underline the importance of both parts of the decision of 12th December 1979 which provided for a limited modernization of United States Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) combined with a parallel offer of negotiations on United States and Soviet weapons of this kind. This decision, which was prompted, in particular, by the deployment of SS-20 missiles, led to the current INF talks in Geneva within the framework of negotiations on strategic arms reductions (2).

The Allies fully support the United States efforts to enhance security through the total elimination of all existing and planned Soviet and United States longer-range land-based INF missiles. The United States proposal was developed in close consultation within the Alliance among the member countries concerned. The Ministers of these countries welcomed the continuing United States commitment to serious negotiations, and to consider carefully with these Allies any serious Soviet proposal.

Ministers reiterated that, in the absence of concrete results, INF deployments would begin according to schedule at the end of 1983 (2).

9. The Allies welcomed the recent proposals by President Reagan for new confidence-building measures in the nuclear field between the United States and the Soviet Union intended to enhance stability.
10. The Allies participating in the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction (MBFR) talks in Vienna are confident that the comprehensive approach embodied in the draft Treaty text presented by Western negotiators has given new momentum to the negotiations. This Western initiative is aimed at achieving real progress towards substantial reductions of ground forces, leading to parity in combined ground and air force manpower at equal collective levels in Central Europe. Western participants in the negotiations call upon the East to respond adequately to the need for prior agreement on data for current Warsaw Pact force levels and to agree to effective associated measures for verification and confidence-building.
11. The Allies also attach great importance to efforts in the United Nations to secure improved verification procedures, wider availability of information on defence spending and other measures likely to enhance transparency and thus build confidence.
12. The Allies are gravely concerned about strong evidence of continued use of chemical weapons in South-East Asia and Afghanistan in violation of international law, including Soviet involvement in the use of such weapons (3).

They stress the need for progress in the Committee on Disarmament towards a convention on the prohibition of development, production and stockpiling of chemical weapons and on their destruction, with appropriate provisions for verification including on-site inspection.

13. At the Madrid CSCE follow-up meeting the Allies have deplored infringements of the principles and provisions of the Final Act. They noted in this respect that the situation in Poland remained a source of concern. The Allies are continuing their efforts to arrive at a substantial and balanced concluding document and they regard the draft submitted by the Neutral and Non-Aligned States in December 1981 as a good basis for negotiations. They have introduced a number of amendments to bring it up-to-date with realities in Europe and to call for progress on human rights, free trade unions and the freer movement of people, ideas and information. To facilitate a positive outcome in Madrid, the Allies urge the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact states to abide by the principles and provisions of the Final Act.

As part of a substantial and balanced concluding document, the Allies reaffirm their support for a conference on confidence and security building measures and disarmament in Europe on the basis of a precise mandate to negotiate in a first phase militarily significant, politically binding and verifiable confidence and security building measures applicable to the whole of Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals. They will also strive to achieve significant progress in the important humanitarian aspects of East-West relations.

14. Economic recovery in the West is essential both for Allied defence efforts and for social stability and progress. The Allies reaffirmed the need for effective cooperation bilaterally and in the appropriate fora towards this end, including programmes in keeping with Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty which are intended to benefit the economies of the less favoured partners.
15. The Allies recognize that mutually advantageous trade with the East on commercially sound terms contributes to constructive East-West relations. At the same time they agree that bilateral economic and trade relations with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe must also be consistent with their broad security concerns which include the avoidance of contributing to Soviet military strength. Studies are underway or will soon be undertaken on several aspects of East-West economic relations and Ministers will consider these issues again, on the basis of these studies, at their next meeting (4).
16. The strict observance and full implementation of the Quadripartite Agreement of 3rd September 1971 and the maintenance of an undisturbed situation in and around Berlin remain essential elements in East-West relations. The Allies welcome the efforts of the Federal Republic of Germany to strengthen the economy of the city in particular by ensuring long-term employment prospects.

Recalling their Rome statement of 5th May 1981, the Allies express the hope that the continuation of the dialogue between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic will contribute to the strengthening of peace in Europe and will bring direct benefits for Berlin and the German people in both states.

17. Peaceful progress world-wide is a goal to which the Allies remain committed. They consider that genuine non-alignment - an important element of international peace and stability - contributes to this goal, as does the aid which the Allies give bilaterally and multilaterally to the development of Third World countries. They reaffirm their readiness to co-operate with Third World countries on a basis of equal partnership. The Allies call upon all states to make an effective contribution to the struggle against under-development and to refrain from exploiting those nations' economic and social problems for political gain.

The Allies recognize that certain events outside the Treaty area may affect their common interests as members of the Alliance. Allied consultation on such events will be based on the recognition of those common interests. Those Allies in a position to do so may respond to requests by sovereign nations whose security and independence are threatened. It is in the interest of the Alliance as a whole to ensure that sufficient capability remains in the Treaty area to maintain deterrence and defence.

18. The Allies again strongly condemn the crime of terrorism, which is a menace to democratic institutions and the conduct of normal international relations. They appeal to all governments to examine the possibilities of increased co-operative efforts to stamp out this scourge.
19. The Alliance's efficiency in pursuing its policies depends upon continued cohesion and solidarity taking into account the natural diversity of its sovereign member states. Recognizing in this connection the value of their informal meeting in Canada, Ministers agreed that similar meetings could usefully be held in future.
20. The Spring 1983 meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Ministerial Session will be held in Paris on 9th-10th June.

Note: The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain has informed the Council of the Spanish Government's purpose regarding the Alliance and reserved his Government's position on the present communiqué.

Footnotes:

1. The Greek Delegation recalled its position on various aspects of this declaration.
2. Greece reserves its position on these two paragraphs.
3. Greece has expressed its view on this sentence, which were recorded in the record of the meeting.
4. Greece recalled its position on various aspects of this paragraph.

In addition to the Communiqué, the Foreign Ministers decided to publish the following extracts from the Minutes of their Meeting of 9th and 10th December 1982:

Economic Co-operation and Assistance within the Alliance

Mindful of the particularly difficult economic climate currently prevailing, Ministers noted a report by the Secretary General on economic developments in the less industrialized member countries which were particularly affected by the international economic situation. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining, in accordance with the spirit of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty, co-operation and support for these countries both bilaterally and through the appropriate international organizations.

The Situation in the Mediterranean

Ministers noted the report on the situation in the Mediterranean prepared on their instructions and underlined again the necessity of maintaining adequate forces in the whole area. They requested the Council in Permanent Session to continue to consult on the question and submit a further report at their next meeting.

Equipment Co-operation

Ministers took note of a report by the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD). They noted with satisfaction the growing awareness throughout the Alliance of the significance of the work of the CNAD in promoting equipment co-operation, and its contribution to the defence posture of NATO countries. In this respect, they welcomed Current CNAD moves to establish a CNAD follow-on programme to the Bonn and Luxembourg meetings.

Ministers reviewed CNAD activities in the fields of technology transfer and emerging technologies and reaffirmed their importance. They particularly noted CNAD activities in the examination of technical and cost implications and the potential of specific programmes involving emerging technologies.

Reaffirming their desire to promote the two-way street in defence equipment between North America and its European partners, Ministers agreed that the pursuit of the Transatlantic Dialogue should strengthen prospects for greater Alliance-wide armaments co-operation both by seeking to remove obstacles, such as restrictive legislation and restrictive government policies, and by fostering dual production projects, as well as implementation of the family of weapons concept. They stressed the need for continuing efforts to improve Government-industry co-operation in order to make more efficient and widespread use of the resources of the Alliance for deterrence and reaffirmed the importance of the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG).

Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS)

Ministers took note of the annual progress report by the Secretary General on the work of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS). They noted that recent exchanges of views within the Committee on the common challenges facing Western society provided a good basis for further consideration of the direction which the Committee's work should take.

Ministers also noted that the Committee had launched three new Pilot Studies in the course of the year in the areas of marine environment and the protection of cultural heritage. A joint initiative between the CCMS and the NATO Science Committee respecting the possibilities offered by satellites in water pollution movement detection is under active consideration. Three studies had been concluded, on Rural Passenger Transportation, the Management of Estuarine Systems, and Drinking Water. Ministers welcomed public interest shown in the international symposia on various topics of societal/environmental concerns held under the Committee's aegis in the course of the year.

NATO Information Policy

Ministers are deeply convinced of the strength of the links which unite their countries. They firmly believe that this Atlantic solidarity will be maintained with the support of public opinion. In this respect they recognized the importance of an adequate information policy.

Note: The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain has informed the Council of the Spanish Government's purpose regarding the Alliance and reserved his Government's position on the present Extracts from the Minutes.