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The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Lisbon on 6th and 7th June 1985. Ministers agreed as follows:
- We are a defensive Alliance dedicated to the preservation of peace and the protection of freedom.
- Reaffirming the principles of last year's Washington Statement on East- West Relations, we remain determined to maintain both our political solidarity and the military strength necessary for our defence. On this basis, we seek genuine detente through constructive dialogue and broad cooperation with the Soviet Union and with each of the countries of Eastern Europe in all areas. We call on the new Soviet leadership to join us in seeking tangible improvements in East-West relations, which would permit us to build on areas of common interest. A positive Soviet response to the US approach at the US-Soviet negotiations recently opened in Geneva would contribute substantially towards that end.
- We do not seek military superiority for ourselves. None of our weapons will ever be used except in response to attack.
But, faced with the continuing build up and modernisation of Soviet nuclear and conventional arms, we shall preserve credible deterrence through sufficient conventional and nuclear forces. The Allies participating in the military structure of the Alliance are making an effort to improve, in particular, their conventional capabilities.
Our strategy of deterrence has proved its value in safeguarding peace; it remains fully valid. Its purpose is to prevent war and to enable us to resist intimidation.
- The security of the North American and European Allies is inseparable. The cohesion of the Alliance is sustained by continuous consultations on all matters affecting our common interests and security.
- Deterrence and defence together with arms control and disarmament are integral parts of the security policy of the Alliance. We wish to strengthen the peace by establishing a stable military balance at the lowest possible level of forces.
- In this spirit, we welcome the US-Soviet negotiations in Geneva on their strategic nuclear weapons, on their intermediate range nuclear weapons, and on defence and space systems. These negotiations are intended to work out between the two countries effective agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space and terminating it on earth, at limiting and reducing nuclear arms, and at strengthening strategic stability. We strongly support US efforts in all three areas of negotiation, and we call on the Soviet Union to adopt a positive approach.
The Allies concerned reiterate their willingness to modify, halt, reverse, or dispense with Longer Range INF (LRINF) deployment as part of an equitable and verifiable arms control agreement. In the absence of such an agreement, they will continue to deploy LRINF missiles on schedule.
We will continue to consult closely on all of these issues. (1)
- We are determined to achieve progress also on other aspects of arms control and disarmament and urge the Soviet Union to work with us for balanced and verifiable agreements. In particular:
- in the Vienna MBFR negotiations the participating Allies are seeking equal collective manpower levels through verifiable reductions in conventional forces in Europe and effective associated measures;
- in Stockholm (CDE) we are seeking agreement on militarily significant, politically binding and verifiable confidence and security building measures covering the whole of Europe to give new, concrete effect and expression to the existing duty of all participating states to refrain from the threat or use of force;
- in the Geneva Conference on Disarmament we seek in particular a worldwide comprehensive and verifiable ban on Chemical Weapons; we remain deeply concerned about the proliferation and use of such weapons.
- We attach great importance to the full implementation by all participating states of all principles and provisions enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act and to balanced progress in the CSCE process in all its aspects. The tenth anniversary of the Final Act in August 1985 should be commemorated by a meeting of the participating states at Ministerial level. We would like to
see the anniversary marked by substantial progress in the CSCE process, including-meaningful results at the important meeting on Human Rights in Ottawa. We also hope for a positive exchange of views at the Cultural Forum in Budapest in the Autumn.
- We strongly condemn terrorism and will continue to work to eliminate this threat to our citizens and to the democratic values we hold in common.
- In the spirit of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty, we remain fully committed to promoting the stability and well-being of our community of free nations, sharing common values. We consequently reaffirm the importance of special programmes for less favoured partners.
- The maintenance of a calm situation in and around Berlin, including unhindered traffic on all access routes, remains an essential element in East-West relations.
We support the efforts of the Federal Republic of Germany to achieve progress in inner-German relations which can make a significant contribution to the building of confidence in Europe and benefit the German people, particularly the Berliners.
- The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, now in its sixth year, violates fundamental principles of international law. We urge the Soviet Union to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people, by withdrawing its troops and agreeing to a political solution restoring the independence and non-aligned status of Afghanistan.
Events in Poland underscore the continuing need for genuine dialogue between the various elements of society and for national reconciliation.
We, for our part, respect the sovereignty and independence of all states. We will remain vigilant and will consult on events outside the Treaty area which might threaten our common security.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain reserves his Government's position on the present Communiqué.
Footnote:
- Greece and Denmark reserve their positions on the INF part of this paragraph.
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