Ministerial Communiqué Paris 15th-17th Dec 1964

Final Communiqué Chairman : Mr. D. U. Stikker. Synopsis East-West relations - State of the Alliance to be examined - Berlin and Germany - Cohesion of member states - Disarmament - Strategic questions - Military and economic problems of Greece and Turkey Cyprus "watching brief" - Civil emergency planning.

The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Paris on 15th, 16th and 17th December, 1964. Ministers surveyed the whole field of East-West relations. The basic causes of tension still persist, and will persist as long as it remains the aim of the Communist countries to extend their system to the whole world. Ministers noted that recent developments in China and the Soviet Union have increased the uncertainties with which the world is faced. They reiterated their conviction that it remained essential for the Alliance to maintain and strengthen its unity. Ministers also reviewed the situation in various areas in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They reaffirmed their interest in the stability of these areas and in the economic and social welfare of the peoples concerned. In their discussions on the state and future progress of the Alliance, Ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening and deepening their political consultation. Recognizing the challenges that may face the Organization in the years ahead, they directed the Council in Permanent Session to study the state of the Alliance and the purposes and objectives commonly accepted by all members, and to keep Ministers informed. Ministers reaffirmed their determination to continue their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the questions at issue between East and West. In particular, they continue to attach great importance to making progress towards meeting the legitimate aspirations of the German people to reunification on the basis of their right to self-determination. In regard to Berlin, Ministers confirmed the terms of their declaration of 16th December, 1958. Ministers expressed their conviction that the unity and military preparedness of the Alliance had safeguarded peace and preserved the freedom of the West in the past. So long as general and complete disarmament under effective international control has not been achieved, any weakening of the Allied defensive posture would expose the Alliance to increased pressures. Ministers therefore stressed the importance of maintaining the cohesion of member states in the strategies as well as the political field. Only a military structure demonstrably capable of swift and vigorous reaction to any aggression can meet the threat. To maintain such a structure, involving as it does a continuous adaptation to changing requirements, necessitates a persistent effort to improve the readiness, state of training, and equipment of the forces of the Alliance. It further requires a sound economic basis for the defence effort and the most rational use of available resources. Ministers also confirmed their determination to continue their efforts to arrive at agreements in the field of disarmament. In this connection, they stressed the importance of avoiding the dissemination of nuclear weapons. Ministers examined the problems confronting the Alliance in the field of conventional and nuclear weapons. A thorough exchange of views on these problems took place and will be continued. Ministers took note of developments in the studies of the inter-related questions of strategy, force requirements and resources, initiated in pursuance of the decisions taken at their meeting in Ottawa in May 1963. They reaffirmed the significance they attached to these studies and instructed the Council in Permanent Session to continue them with the assistance of the NATO Military Authorities. Ministers also considered the special military and economic problems of Greece and Turkey. They reaffirmed the need for ac- celerating the economic development of these two allied countries, and for an effort to strengthen the defence of the South-Eastern region of NATO. They instructed the Council in Permanent Session to continue to examine these questions urgently. In the spirit of previous resolutions on defence aid to Greece in 1963 and 1964, Ministers established a procedure aimed at contributing to the solution of the special defence problems of Greece and Turkey in 1965. With regard to Greek-Turkish relations, Ministers heard a report by the Secretary General on the "watching brief" conferred on his predecessor at The Hague in May 1964. In an effort to improve these relations and in the interests of the solidarity of the Alliance, they agreed that this "watching brief" should continue. They reaffirmed their determination to lose no opportunity of contributing to a reduction in tension and a peaceful, agreed and equitable solution of the problem of Cyprus, confirming also their support for the efforts of the United Nations and the Mediator. Ministers considered a report on Civil Emergency Planning. They reaffirmed the importance of such planning within the context of overall defence, noting the progress which had been achieved and the work which remained to be done. The next meeting of the North Atlantic Council at Ministerial level will be held on the invitation of the United Kingdom Government in London in May, 1965.