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Summary
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In February
1984, Soviet leader Yuri Andropov dies and is succeeded by the ailing
Konstantin Chernenko. Following the death of Chernenko in March
1985, the younger and more dynamic Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power.
The new leader initiates a programme - perestroika - to restructure
the Soviet economy which is plagued by low productivity, enormous
waste, planning mistakes and constant shortages. He permits an unprecedented
level of openness in public life - glasnost. Furthermore, in order
to overcome conservative opposition, he begins to democratise the
political system. Realising that it will be impossible to improve
an economy so heavily burdened by the defence budgets, he begins
to take steps to reduce defence spending and reach arms control
agreements with the West.
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Opening of the Stockholm Conference on Security and Confidence
Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe (CDE).
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CSCE Experts Meeting on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, Athens.
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NATO Foreign Ministers issue the Washington Statement on East-West
Relations.
Additional
information:
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Summit meeting in London. Heads of State and Government of the
seven major industrialised countries issue a declaration on East-West
Relations and Arms Control.
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Foreign Ministers of the seven countries of the Western European
Union meeting in Paris decide to reactivate the WEU.
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Lord Carrington (the United Kingdom) succeeds Joseph Luns as Secretary
General of NATO.
Additional
information:
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CSCE Seminar on Economic, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation in
the Mediterranean, Venice.
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Foreign and Defence Ministers of the member countries of the Western
European Union publish the Rome Declaration announcing their decision
to increase cooperation within the WEU.
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Presentation by the Secretary General of NATO of the first Atlantic
Award to Per Markussen (Denmark), for his contribution over many
years to the objectives of the Atlantic Alliance.
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