Part III
Key Policy
Documents
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Declaration
of Brussels issued by the North Atlantic Council in Ministerial Session
Brussels, 9 December 1983
We, the representatives of the sixteen member countries of the North
Atlantic Alliance, reaffirm the dedication of the Allies to the maintenance
of peace in freedom.
Our Alliance threatens no one. None of our weapons will ever be used except
in response to attack. We do not aspire to superiority, neither will we
accept that others should be superior to us. Our legitimate security interests
can only be guaranteed through the firm linkage between Europe and North
America.
We call upon the Soviet Union to respect our legitimate security interests
as we respect theirs.
We are determined to ensure security on the basis of a balance of forces
at the lowest possible level. Faced with the threat posed by the Soviet
SS-20 missiles, the Allies concerned are going forward with the implementation
of the double-track decision of 1979.
The ultimate goal remains that there should be neither Soviet nor United
States land based long-range INF missiles. The deployment of US missiles
can be halted or reversed by concrete results at the negotiating table.
In this spirit we wish to see an early resumption of the INF negotiations
which the Soviet Union has discontinued (*).
We urge the countries of the Warsaw Pact to seize the
opportunities we offer for a balanced and constructive relationship and
for genuine détente. In all arms control negotiations progress
must be made among the states participating, in articular in:
- the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START);
- the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Talks (INF);
- the negotiations on Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR);
- the endeavours for a complete ban on chemical weapons in the Committee
on Disarmament.
We are also resolved to use the forthcoming Stockholm Conference as
a new opportunity to broaden the dialogue with the East, to negotiate
confidence-building measures and enhance stability and security in the
whole of Europe.
We shall continue to do our utmost to sustain a safe and peaceful future.
We extend to the Soviet Union and the other Warsaw Pact countries the
offer to work together with us to bring about a long-term constructive
and realistic relationship based on equilibrium, moderation and reciprocity.
For the benefit of mankind we advocate an open, comprehensive political
dialogue, as well as cooperation based on mutual advantage.
Footnote:
(*) Denmark and Greece reserve their positions
on this paragraph; Spain, not having been a party to the double-track
decision of 1979, reserves its position on this paragraph.
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