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The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Lisbon
on 3rd and 4th June, 1971.
- The continuing political aim of the Atlantic Alliance is to
seek peace through initiatives designed to relax tensions and
to establish a just and durable peaceful order in Europe,
accompanied by effective security guarantees. The Alliance
remains indispensable to peace and stability in Europe and to
the security of all its members.
- Ministers reviewed the international situation,
concentrating their attention on Europe and the Mediterranean.
- They assessed the state of progress of the several
initiatives which allied countries had undertaken within the
framework of the established policy of the Alliance to
intensify contacts, explorations and negotiations with members
of the Warsaw Pact and other European states. The purpose of
all these initiatives is to seek just solutions to the
fundamental problems of European security and thus to achieve a
genuine improvement of East-West relations. They noted with
satisfaction the results obtained and expressed the hope that
the continuation of these efforts would lead to further
progress helping the development of detente. The allies have
consulted and will continue to consult closely on these diplo-
matic activities.
- Ministers welcomed the continued negotiations between the US
and the USSR with the aim of placing limitations on offensive
and defensive strategic arms. They noted the useful discussions
held in the North Atlantic Council on this subject. Ministers
also welcomed the agreement between the US and the USSR
announced on 20th May, regarding the framework for further
negotiations, and expressed the sincere hope that it would
facilitate discussions leading to the early achievement of
concrete results enhancing the common security interests of the
North Atlantic Alliance and stability in the world.
- In reviewing the Berlin question, Ministers underlined the
necessity of alleviating the causes of insecurity in and around
the city. During the past quarter of a century, much of the
tension which has characterized East-West relations in Europe
has stemmed from the situation in and around Berlin. Thus the
Ministers would regard the successful outcome of the Berlin
talks as an encouraging indication of the willingness of the
Soviet Union to join in the efforts of the Alliance to achieve
a meaningful and lasting improvement of East-West relations in
Europe.
- Ministers therefore reaffirmed their full support for the
efforts of the Governments of France, the United Kingdom and
the United States to reach an agreement on Berlin. They shared
the view of the three Governments that the aim of the
negotiations should be to achieve specific improvements based
on firm commitments without prejudice to the status of Berlin.
In this context, they emphasized the importance of reaching
agreement on unhindered movement of persons and goods between
the Federal Republic of Germany and Western sectors of Berlin,
on improved opportunities for movement by residents of the
Western sectors, and on respect for the relationship between
the Western sectors and the Federal Republic as it has
developed with the approval of the three Governments.
- Ministers were of the view that progress in the talks
between German Authorities on a modus vivendi, taking into account the special situation in Germany, would be an important contribution to a relaxation of tension in Europe.
- Ministers, having; reviewed the prospects for the
establishment of multilateral contacts relating to the
essential problems of security and co-operation in Europe,
again emphasized the importance they attach to the successful
conclusion of the negotiations on Berlin. They noted with
satisfaction that these negotiations have entered into a more
active phase and have enabled progress to be registered in
recent weeks. They hope that before their next meeting the
negotiations on Berlin will have reached a successful
conclusion and that multilateral conversations intended to lead
to a conference on security and co-operation in Europe may then
be undertaken. ln this spirit they invited the Council in
Permanent Session to continue, in the framework of its normal
consultations on the international situations its periodic
review of the results achieved in all contacts and talks
relative to security and co-operation in Europe so that it
could without delay take a position on the opening of
multilateral talks.
- In anticipation of these multilateral contacts, the Council
in Permanent Session actively pursued preparations for
discussions on the substance and procedures of possible
East-West negotiations, and submitted a report to this effect
to Ministers. The report stressed that the successful outcome
of such negotiations would have to be founded on universal
respect for the principles governing relations between states
as cited by Ministers in previous Communiqués and Declarations.
The various prospects for developing co-operation between East
and West in the economic, technical, scientific, cultural and
environmental fields were closely examined. The report also
reviewed in detail the essential elements on which agreement
would be desirable in order to promote the freer movement of
people, ideas and information so necessary to the development
of international co-operation in all fields.
- Ministers noted these studies and instructed the Council in
Permanent Session to continue them pending the initiation of
multilateral contacts between East and West. Ministers stressed
that they would press on with their bilateral exploratory
conversations with all interested states.
- Ministers took note of the report on the situation in the
Mediterranean prepared by the Council in Permanent Session.
While welcoming the efforts currently undertaken to
re-establish peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, they observed
that developments in the area as a whole continue to give cause
for concern. In the light of the conclusions of this report,
they instructed the Council in Permanent Session to continue
consultations on this situation and to report thereon at their
next meeting.
- The allied Governments which issued the declarations at
Reykjavik in 1968 and Rome in 1970 and which subscribed to
paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Brussels Communiqué of 1970 have
consistently urged the Soviet Union and other European
countries to discuss mutual and balanced force reductions. They
reaffirmed that the reduction of the military confrontation in
Europe--- at which MBFR is aiming--is essential for increased
security and stability.
- Against this background, Ministers representing these
Governments welcomed the response of Soviet leaders indicating
possible readiness to consider reductions of armed forces and
armaments in Central Europe. These Soviet reactions, which
require further clarification, are, together with those of
other states, receiving the closest attention of the Alliance
- In an effort to determine whether common ground exists on
which to base negotiations on mutual and balanced force
reductions, these Ministers expressed the agreement of their
Governments to continue and intensify explorations with the
Soviet Union and also with other interested Governments on the
basis of the considerations outlined in paragraph 3 of the Rome
Declaration. They expressed their intention to move as soon
as may be practical to negotiations. To this end these
Ministers agreed that Deputy Foreign Ministers or High
Officials should meet at Brussels at an early date to review
the results of the exploratory contacts and to consult on
substantive and procedural approaches to mutual and balanced
force reductions.
- These Ministers further announced their willingness to
appoint, at the appropriate time, a representative or
representatives, who would be responsible to the Council for
conducting further exploratory talks with the Soviet Government
and the other interested Governments and eventually to work out
the time, place, arrangements and agenda for negotiations on
mutual and balanced force reductions.
- Reviewing other developments in the field of arms control
and disarmament, these Ministers noted as a significant step
forward the conclusion of a treaty banning the emplacement of
weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and ocean floor.
Allied Ministers noted with satisfaction the work done by the
Conference of the Committee on Disarmament with a view to
reaching an agreement eliminating bacteriological weapons and
toxins. They reaffirmed the importance they attach to effective
and adequately verified arms limitation and disarmament
measures consistent with the security of all states and invited
the Council in Permanent Session to continue to pursue the
Alliance efforts and studies in all fields related to arms
control and disarmament.
- Ministers expressed satisfaction at the impressive progress
achieved by the (committee on the Challenges of Modern Society
as reported by the Secretary General. They noted particularly
the important contribution made by the Allies to combat the
pollution of the seas by oil and to the development of road
safety. They welcomed the fact that intensive work was underway
on problems relating to coastal and inland water pollution and
disaster assistance. They further welcomed the contribution the
Committee had made to alerting Governments and public opinion
to the problems of modern technology, as well as to the dangers
for modern society arising from the deterioration of the
environment. They observed that many countries of the Alliance
have equipped themselves with new Government structures to cope
with such problems. Ministers took special note of the fact
that the benefits of allied efforts had not been confined to
the countries of the Alliance but were being felt in other
countries as well as in broader based international
organizations.
- Ministers expressed their regret at the impending departure
of Mr. Manlio Brosio who had informed them of his intention to
resign as Secretary General of the Organization. In their
tributes to Mr. Brosio, Ministers dwelt on his outstanding
stewardship in often difficult circumstances and stressed the
patience and perseverance which have marked his untiring work
for both defence and detente. They expressed to him their deep
appreciation for the distinguished service he has rendered to
the Alliance and to peace in the past seven years.
- The Council invited Mr. Joseph Luns, Foreign Minister of
the Netherlands, to become Secretary General of the
Organization as from 1st October, 1971. Mr. Luns informed the
Council of his acceptance of this invitation.
- The next Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council
will be held in Brussels in December 1971.
- Ministers requested the Foreign Minister of Italy, as
President of Council, to transmit this Communiqué on their
behalf through diplomatic channels to all other interested
parties including neutral and non-aligned Governments.
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