- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- (see Doc. 936, Report of the Political Committee). This Resolution was adopted by the Assembly at its 26th Sitting, on 20th January 1959, after debate at the 25th and 26th Sittings
1. The Assembly,
2. Deeply concerned by the seriousness of the problem raised by the proposals of the Soviet Government for the future status of West Berlin and by the seeming intention to put them in the form of an ultimatum with an expiry limit ;
3. Recalls that no international agreement can be terminated unilaterally and that the Soviet Government remains bound by the obligations to which it subscribed in London on 12th September and 14th November 1944, in Berlin on 7th July 1945, in New York on 4th May 1949, and in Paris on 20th June 1949, and which guarantee the protection of West Berlin by Western forces and their freedom of access to their sector ;
4. Takes note that the people of West Berlin clearly and freely affirmed, at the elections on 7th December 1958, their unswerving attachment to democracy and freedom ; 5. Believes that their freedom could not be safeguarded in future if West Berlin were to become an isolated city encircled by Soviet forces which could, on the least pretext, march into its territory ;
5. Considers, therefore, that the Western Powers, in fulfilment of their pledged word, are justified in having unanimously and firmly rejected the Soviet proposals ;
6. And, further, considers that it is the duty of the Western Powers to enter as soon as possible into negotiations with the Soviet Union on the German problem as a whole, which, while safeguarding the inalienable rights of the people of West Berlin, would open the way to an acceptable agreement, taking into account the security requirements of all the States concerned.
