A Cardboard Castle?: An Inside History of the Warsaw Pact, 1955-1991

Document No. 75: Comparison of Warsaw Treaty and NATO Positions concerning the European Security Conference, December 1, 1971

Document No. 75: Comparison of Warsaw Treaty and NATO Positions concerning the European Security Conference, December 1, 1971 ——————————————————————————————————————————— At the time this document was written, preparations for the European security conference had been underway for almost two years and the respective positions of the Warsaw Pact and NATO had crystallized. Those positions are reflected clearly here and point to some very different conceptions of the CSCE and its purpose. The Soviets wanted to convene the conference soon, whereas the Western side favored discussing the agenda first, and proposed adding to it a range of subjects including human rights. For its part, the East wanted to limit the agenda to security issues but excluding arms control negotiations . In the end, preparatory discussions would not start until the following year, and the conference itself would not meet until 1975 in Helsinki. So the West ultimately achieved much of what it wanted: delays, a broad agenda and a process that would continue past the conference itself. Importantly, the Western representatives also won the right to review how the other side was observing the agreement, a practice that turned out to be very much to Moscow’s disadvantage. ____________________ Comparison of the Warsaw Treaty and NATO Positions on Issues Concerning the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe Position concerning the idea of the CSCE: Warsaw Treaty: Is the author of the proposal whose formal expression was “An Appeal to all countries of Europe” adopted at the PCC meeting in Budapest on March 17, 1969. The proposal was further developed during the following PCC sessions and meetings of foreign ministers of the Warsaw Treaty states, including the last one, held in Warsaw (November 30 to December 1, 1971). NATO: Believes that at the present phase of general European dialogue, convening the Conference has become inevitable. Proposed topics: Warsaw Treaty: Formulated in a Memorandum approved during the meeting of foreign ministers of the Warsaw Treaty states in Budapest (June 22, 1970) a) assuring security in Europe and abandoning the use of force, or threat of its use, in mutual relations between states in Europe; b) widening, based on equal opportunity, trade, economic, scientific–technological and cultural relations which lead to the development of political cooperation between European states; c) establishing, during the European conference, an institution for matters of security and cooperation in Europe. NATO: Formulated on the basis of the report of the NATO Permanent Council 390 [which was] examined during the session of the NATO Ministerial Council (Brussels, December 1971) a) problems of security, including policies regulating relations between states and certain military aspects of security; b) free movement of people, information and ideas, and cultural relations; c) cooperation in the fields of the economy, applied sciences, technology, and pure science; d) cooperation aimed at improvement of the human environment. Participants: Warsaw Treaty: All European countries with full and equal rights, including the GDR and the FRG, and also the USA and Canada. NATO: In effect accepts the proposal for the Conference participants presented by the Warsaw Treaty. Assumes that the participation of the GDR will not be understood as its international recognition by the West, if by the time the Conference is convened, this problem is not resolved. (This problem may lead to tendencies which would limit the full and equal rights of the GDR during the Conference). Demands participation of the EEC38 representative in the Conference (possibly other international organizations as well). Level: Warsaw Treaty: High, equal to the level of problems considered during the Conference . NATO: Mentioned as possibly at the level of foreign ministers. Time: Warsaw Treaty: The earliest possible. The year 1972 is officially proposed, however, in reality 1973 is predicted. NATO: Not before 1973; after meeting specific conditions, and “thorough preparations .” France declared [it is] working toward convening the CSCE in 1972. Place: Warsaw Treaty: In accordance with the offer of the Finnish government – Helsinki . Possible location in a different neutral country (i.e.: Geneva or Vienna) is not excluded. NATO: No strong support for, but also no objection to Helsinki. Permanent institution: Warsaw Treaty: Proposal for establishment of an institution for matters of security and cooperation by the European Conference. Such institution should assure the continuation of the process of shaping European security, perform the function of an inter-conference body and create a mechanism for preparing future conferences. 38 European Economic Community (“Common Market”). 391 NATO: Lack of unanimity...