East-West relations in Europe

Recommendation 692 (1973)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 23 and 24 January 1973 (20th, 21st and 22nd Sittings) (see Doc. 3230, report of the Political Affairs Committee), Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 January 1973 (22nd Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Considering that the main conditions for a relaxation of tension in Europe expressed in its previous recommendations have now been met,

2. Welcomes the ratification of the treaties concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Soviet Union and Poland as well as che entry into force of the Berlin Agreement ;

3. Hopes that the treaty on the basis of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic will lead to the expected positive results ;

4. Welcomes the improvement in relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, which makes a more active involvement of the West in a policy of détente more necessary ;

5. Considers that the multilateral exploratory talks for a Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe should provide for careful preparation enabling the conference to reach concrete results and to fulfil the following aims ;

a binding commitments against the use or the threat of force in relations among States, and ensuring respect for the principles of territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs and the equality and independence of all States ;

b increased cultural cooperation, involving the free movement of people, ideas and information between East and West ;

c increased cooperation among European States by establishing a framework for freer economic, industrial and scientific exchanges, and for joint projects in the power, transport and environmental fields ;

6. Considers that parallel progress must be made in exploratory talks on mutual and balanced force reductions if the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is to be a success :

7. Believes that the Council of Europe should now make a more active contribution to East-West détente which is entering a multilateral phase ;

8. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

continue their consultations and their exchange of views with the Assembly on the development of East-West relations ;

seek and promote the coordination of the policies of member States in the preparation of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe ;

reassess their policy towards Eastern Europe in the light of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to which the Council of Europe should make a contribution, and discuss the possibility of establishing cooperation with East European States in certain Council of Europe activities, such as conventions and technical intergovernmental work.