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Synopsis: East-West relations - political solidarity within the Alliance - Washington Statement of May 1984 - consultations on arms control and disarmament-forthcoming meeting of Secretary Shultz and Foreign Minister Gromyko - Longer-Range INF (LRINF) deployments in the absence of a concrete negotiated result - efforts to achieve a global ban on chemical weapons - CDE - MBFR - commitment to the CSCE process - Afghanistan - Poland - events outside the Treaty area - Berlin - dialogue between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic - terrorism - Allied concern over the continued expansion of the Soviet military potential.

The North Atlantic Council met in Ministerial Session in Brussels on 13 and 14 December 1984. Ministers agreed as follows:

 

Other issues also remain of deep concern to us. Recent events in Poland again demonstrate the need to achieve 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 night threaten our common security.

We support the efforts of the Federal Republic of Germany to continue and develop dialogue and cooperation with the German Democratic Republic as a contribution to strengthening peace in Europe and to obtain further practical improvements to benefit the German people, particularly the Berliners. On the question of the division of Germany, we reaffirm our Washington Statement of 31 May 1984.

 

  1. The last few years have been difficult ones for East-West- relations. The difficulties have not been of our making. In particular, the constant Soviet. build-up of arms of all kinds requires us to maintain adequate forces to guarantee our collective security and to preserve the peace. The Alliance has continued to show strength and political solidarity, which remain the basis for our security.
  2. The principles of the "Washington Statement on East-West Relations" , of May 1984, which reaffirms our commitment to the Harmel Report , continue to guide the Alliance. Deterrence and defence, combined with arms control and disarmament, as well as constructive dialogue with the East, are for us integral parts of a coherent policy for stable peace. We remain ready to play our full part in a realistic effort to bring about an improved East-West relationship and increased cooperation. Regular bilateral high- level contacts can contribute to these objectives. We call upon the Soviet Union and its allies to adopt a similarly positive approach towards genuine détente.
  3. We will maintain our close consultations on all matters of common concern. As we approach what may be a new phase in the arms control process, consultations on arms control and disarmament remain of particular importance.
  4. We welcome the forthcoming meeting of Secretary Shultz and Foreign Minister Gromyko to discuss new negotiations on the whole range of questions concerning intercontinental and intermediate-range nuclear weapons and arms in outer space. Nuclear weapons should be substantially reduced by negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union leading to equitable, verifiable and balanced agreements in which all concerned can have confidence.
  5. The Allies concerned are willing to reverse, halt or modify the Longer Range INF (LRINF) deployments-including the removal and dismantling of missiles already deployed- upon achievement of a balanced, equitable and verifiable agreement calling for such action. In the absence of a concrete negotiated result obviating the need for such deployment, the Allies concerned emphasised their determination to continue the deployment of longer-range INF missiles as scheduled1.
  6. The best approach to the problem of chemical weapons is the most radical: they should be eliminated world-wide. We remain deeply concerned about the use of such weapons. We call on the international community to work for the objective of a verifiable, comprehensive and global ban on chemical weapons. We attach high priority to the efforts to achieve this objective at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
  7. Confidence and security are complementary. In Stockholm (CDE), we seek agreement on militarily significant and concrete confidence and security building measures to be applied in the whole of Europe thereby giving new effect and expression to the existing duty of all participating states to refrain from the threat or use of force. In Vienna, the Allies participating in the MBFR negotiations are actively working towards a verifiable agreement involving reductions of conventional forces to parity at lower levels, thereby enhancing confidence and improving military stability in Europe.
  8. We remain firmly committed to the balanced development of the CSCE process. The experts meeting on human rights which will take place in Ottawa in May 1985 will be one important step in this process. Full implementation by all participating states of the political undertakings made in Helsinki and Madrid is essential. The tenth anniversary of the signing of the Final Act in August 1985 should be commemorated by a meeting of the participating states at political level, on the assumption that the international climate would make this appropriate. The CSCE process could thereby receive a new impulse.
  9. It is unacceptable that the Soviet Union, in disregard of its obligation not to threaten or use force, continues to violate the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
  10. The maintenance of a calm situation in and around Berlin remains an essential element in East-West relations. In this regard unimpeded traffic on all access routes is of fundamental importance.
  11. We seek to improve the quality of the peace. As a community of free nations sharing common values, we remain fully committed to strengthening free institutions and to promoting stability, well- being and economic cooperation, in the spirit of Article 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. We remain determined to prevent and suppress terrorism which seeks to undermine stability and destroy our democratic institutions.
  12. The continued expansion of Soviet military potential remains a major Allied concern. We are therefore determined to maintain a sufficient level of both conventional and nuclear forces to ensure the credibility of deterrence. Those Allies participating in the military structure of the Alliance will work in particular to strengthen their conventional capabilities. The security we seek for ourselves is not security at the expense of the Soviet Union or any one else. None of our weapons will ever be used except in response to attack. Our Alliance is designed to prevent war and to preserve peace in freedom.
  13. The Spring 1985 Meeting of the Council in Ministerial Session will be held in Lisbon in June.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain reserves his Government's position on the present Communiqué.

Footnote:

 

1. Denmark and Greece reserve their positions on paragraph 5.