The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Ottawa on l8th and l 9th June, l974. In this the 25th anniversary year of the Alliance, Ministers declared their countries' continuing dedication to the aims and ideals of the North Atlantic Treaty. Ministers emphasized the desirability of developing and deepening the application of the principles of democracy, respect for human rights, justice and social progress. Today in Ottawa Ministers adopted and published a Declaration on Atlantic Relations. This important Declaration reaffirms the commitment of all the members to the Alliance and sets its future course in light of the new perspectives and challenges of a rapidly changing world. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal gave a report on developments in his country since the change of regime and on the efforts of his Government to promote peace in Africa. Ministers welcomed the evolution towards the establishment of democratic and representative government in Portugal. Ministers reviewed the state of East-West relations. They reaffirmed the determination of their governments patiently to pursue policies aimed at reducing tensions and promoting greater understanding and co-operation, not only between states but also between people. But they recalled that real and lasting improvement in East-West relations calls for a constructive approach by all concerned. At the same time, in the face of growing Soviet and Warsaw Pact military power and the risk of renewed tensions the Allies must, through the Atlantic Alliance, maintain their resolve and capacity to defend themselves. Ministers took note of recent developments in relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, including the exchange of permanent representations between the two states in Germany. They expressed the hope that relations between these states will be further improved for the benefit of the German people. As regards Berlin, Ministers discussed the further experience gained in the application of the Quadripartite Agreement of 3rd September, 1971. In doing so, they stressed the essential importance of the provisions of this Agreement which stipulate that traffic between the Western sectors of Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany will be unimpeded. Ministers reaffirmed their conviction that progress towards detente in Europe is inseparably linked with the strict observance and full application of the Berlin Agreement. Ministers reviewed developments in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. They reaffirmed the importance they attach to increasing security and confidence, to developing further co-operation between the participating states in all spheres and to lowering barriers between people. They noted that in the second stage of the Conference, which should make a thorough examination of all aspects of the Conference Agenda, the work has advanced unevenly. Some progress had been made on certain issues, but much work remains to be done, as for example on such key questions as the improvement of human contacts and the freer flow of information, as well as confidence building measures and essential aspects of the principles guiding relations between states. Ministers expressed their Governments' determination to pursue the negotiations patiently and constructively in a continuing search for balanced and substantial results acceptable to all participating states. They considered that, to bring the second stage to its conclusion, these results need to be achieved in the various fields of the program of work established by the Foreign Ministers at the first stage of the Conference in Helsinki. Ministers reviewed developments in the Middle East since their last meeting. They welcomed the recent progress achieved, in particular the disengagement of Syrian and Israeli forces. They affirmed the support of their Governments for the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and for all endeavors directed towards a just and lasting settlement bringing peace to the area; they also welcomed the contributions made by Allied governments to UN peace-keeping activities. Ministers took note of the report by the Council in Permanent Session on the situation in the Mediterranean prepared on their instructions. They invited the Council in Permanent Session to continue to keep the situation under review and to report further. Ministers representing countries which participate in NATO's Integrated Defence Program reviewed the conduct of the negotiations on mutual and balanced force reductions. These Ministers continue to believe that mutual and balanced force reductions achieved through Allied solidarity would contribute to the lessening of tensions in Europe and to a more stable peace. They expressed satisfaction at the results so far reached in the continuing consultations in the Council in Permanent Session on questions of objectives and policy. They instructed the Council to continue this work. These Ministers noted that the current round of negotiations is proceeding in a businesslike way. They expressed their determination to persist in their efforts to bring the negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. They recalled that the general objective of the negotiations is to contribute to a more stable relationship at a lower level of forces with the security of all parties undiminished. This objective should be achieved by establishing approximate parity between the two sides in the form of a common ceiling for overall ground force manpower on each side in the area of reductions, taking into account combat capability. These Ministers reiterated that a first phase agreement providing for the reduction of United States and Soviet ground forces would be an important initial step forward towards that objective. In reaffirming their conviction that reductions of Allied forces in Europe should take place only within the context of an East-West agreement, these Ministers referred to the statements contained in paragraph 4 of the Communiqué of the Defence Planning Committee in Ministerial Session issued on 14th June, 1974. Ministers expressed appreciation for continuing consultations on developments with respect to the SALT negotiations. They noted with satisfaction the efforts undertaken by the United States towards limitations of strategic arms and expressed the hope that these efforts would lead to satisfactory results. The next Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council will be held in Brussels in December 1974.