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Summary
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In July
1988, at the beginning of a significant new era in East-West
relations and the evolution of the Alliance, former German
Defence Minister Manfred Wörner takes up his duties as NATO
Secretary General. During the next six years, the long-standing
division of Europe comes to an end, the Berlin Wall falls,
and a new climate of cooperation between former adversaries
becomes a reality. Manfred Wrner plays a prominent role in
developing the Alliance's response to these new opportunities.
He dies prematurely in August 1994, having stamped his name
indelibly on the Organisation he served.
The Soviet
leader had earlier explained the results of 'new thinking' in his
country's military doctrine. Soviet forces would be reduced in size
and restructured to a purely defensive configuration, based on the
principle of 'reasonable sufficiency'. Addressing the United Nations
in New York on 7 December 1988, he fleshes out this concept by announcing
that the armed forces are to be reduced by half a million troops.
In addition, he intends to withdraw 50,000 Soviet troops from Eastern
Europe, including East Germany, and will assign a defensive role
to the remainder. A total of 10,000 tanks, 8,500 artillery pieces
and 800 fighter aircraft are to be withdrawn from Eastern Europe.
Shortly after his UN speech, several other East European governments
announce their own cuts.
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Establishment of a Joint Security Council by the Governments of
the Federal Republic of Germany and of France. The two Governments
also sign an agreement relating to the formation of a joint Franco-German
Army Brigade.
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Summit meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels emphasises
Allied unity and reasserts the common objectives and principles
and the continuing validity of Alliance policies. A Statement on
Conventional Arms Control is issued calling for significant steps
to bring about progress in eliminating conventional force disparities
through negotiations on conventional stability.
Additional
information:
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Beginning of Soviet troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.
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NATO Defence Ministers commission the Executive Working Group to
conduct a review of roles, risks and responsibilities shared by
member nations in the context of their efforts to sustain the credibility
and effectiveness of collective security and defence.
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information:
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During a five-day Summit meeting in Moscow, President Reagan and
General Secretary Gorbachev exchange documents implementing the
recently ratified December 1987 INF Treaty and sign bilateral agreements
on nuclear testing and in other fields.
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At the first Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council
to be held in Madrid, Foreign Ministers review the positive progress
in East-West relations registered at the Moscow Summit meeting,
and welcome the evolution of the Spanish contribution to the common
defence.
Additional
information:
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Announcement of the formation of a NATO Composite Force to reinforce
Northern Norway in periods of tension or hostility, to replace the
Canadian CAST Brigade which will be reassigned to the Central Region
in accordance with the plans of the Canadian Government.
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The 19th CPSU Conference in Moscow sets in train a programme of
political, constitutional and legal reforms.
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Manfred Woerner, former Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic
of Germany, succeeds Lord Carrington as Secretary General of NATO.
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information:
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Entry into force of a ceasefire in the Gulf War between Iran and
Iraq, in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 598.
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Portugal and Spain sign the Treaty of Accession to the Western
European Union.
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Paul Nitze, Special Adviser on Arms Control to President Reagan,
receives the 1988 Atlantic Award.
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President Gorbachev, in the course of a major address to the UN
General Assembly, announces unilateral Soviet conventional force
reductions. A major earthquake in Armenia devastates several cities
and causes massive loss of life.
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Alliance Foreign Ministers welcome Soviet reductions in conventional
forces and publish a statement outlining the Alliances proposals
for forthcoming negotiations on conventional stability and further
confidence and security building measures.
Additional
information:
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