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Document No. 111: Summary of the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw, March 19–20, 1986 ——————————————————————————————————————————— Eduard Shevardnadze’s presentation at this foreign ministers’ meeting aimed at demonstrating to the other Warsaw Pact members that Gorbachev was serious about encouraging input from the allies in negotiations on common security policy toward the West. After providing background to the Soviet leader’s recent proclamation on eliminating nuclear weapons, Shevardnadze made recommendations for expanding cooperation within the alliance. The following remarks by other ministers are rather wide-ranging and free-flowing, ending with detailed proposals on disarmament by the Romanian representative. ____________________ […] The meeting was based on documents drafted by Poland in cooperation with the Soviet Union. The discussion was tough, primarily because of the attitude and position of the Romanian delegation, which disagreed with the structure of the draft and furnished a number of comments about its contents. Until the very last moment, Romania refused to mention new initiatives resulting from the XXVIIth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, including a proposal to build up a comprehensive international security system, and to support them. Romania disagreed with a proclamation supporting the Soviet approach to the Geneva negotiations with the United States42, and refused to condemn plans to build up a “European Defense Initiative,”43 and to point out the responsibility of both those who had initiated the introduction of arms into space and those who intend to join in it. The non-classbased approach of the Romanian delegation was manifested in its assessments of the international situation. […] Romania proposed deferring the decision to the subsequent meeting of the Committee of Foreign Ministers in Bucharest, the agenda of which will be prepared by an ad hoc team of experts. The meeting proper of the Committee of Foreign Ministers took place on March 19, 1986. The first to speak and deliver a lengthy address was [Soviet Foreign Minister] E.A. Shevardnadze. He dealt with the proclamation of M.S. Gorbachev of January 15, 1986, (liquidation of nuclear weapons) and the creation of a comprehensive international security system. He emphasized that the belief in the viability of the no-nuclear-weapons 42 Negotiations on limitations of intermediate-range nuclear forces in Europe (INF). 43 In 1985, the U.S. government invited European companies to take part in the Strategic Defense Initiative, a project which seemed to threaten European technological independence. In response, 18 European nations at French initiative inaugurated in April 1985 the European Research Agency (later known as EUREKA) to promote European high-technology industries. The agency, with a secretariat in Brussels, was formally established in 1986. 518 plan was based on military and strategic parity, which could be maintained no matter which way the situation developed. He mentioned that the concept of Gorbachev’s proclamation had been born as a result of a comradely dialogue between the Soviet leadership and the leaders of fraternal parties, and pointed out the increasing importance of political cooperation between Warsaw Treaty members, which was aimed at improving its forms and methods. […] He noted that European issues were a matter of prime interest for the Soviet Union. Referring to Gorbachev’s proclamation, he emphasized that it was necessary to proceed from the initial phase of détente to a more mature and permanent one, followed by a reliable security system based on the Helsinki process and a dramatic downsizing of stockpiles of nuclear and conventional weapons. For the first time ever, Europe may realistically perceive a future without nuclear weapons. […] He recommended establishing the practice of a regular exchange of opinions at the working level on issues relating to Western Europe, e.g. during preparations of the subsequent meeting of the Committee of Foreign Ministers. […] Toward the end of his speech, he voiced satisfaction at the strengthening of political cooperation among Warsaw Treaty countries (he also mentioned the joint initiativeoftheGermanDemocraticRepublicandtheCzechoslovakSocialistRepublic vis-à-vis the Federal Republic of Germany). He noted that the coordination of actions through Foreign Ministries had been improving and becoming more flexible, although there were still some reservations. In their respective addresses, the foreign ministers of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, the People’s Republic of Hungary, the German Democratic Republic and the Polish People’s Republic voiced their full agreement with the analysis of international developments and conclusions presented by Comrade Shevardnadze. [Czechoslovak Foreign Minister Bohumil] Chňoupek informed that Czechoslovakia had been considering the possibility of presenting at the subsequent meeting of the...

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