Giving Real Life to Helsinki Accords
raw | digitized
◆ declaration, English, origin: 1986
- Comments on this document:
- Milánská výzva a co je kolem [příprava]
- Translations into other languages:
- Uvádět Helsinskou smlouvu skutečně v život
Machine transcription, not yet edited
====================
PXL_20250625_121417436.jpg
====================
JNTRODUCTION -2(Draft) GIVING REAL LIFE TO THE HELSINKI ACCORDS A memorandum to the European peoples and governments Note to the reader: While the introduction, part I (European security) and part III (Human rights) were intensively discussed in the drafting committee, part II (cooperation in economy, ecology, science and culture) could not be discussed owing to lack of time. In order to avoid further delay in a broader discussion of the draft we submit it here with a very incomplete part II which certainly will need thorough discussion and supplementation. It might be considered to restructure the whole part II and divide it into three compact subunits (economy, ecology, science and culture).. The English language of our text certainly will need a thorough polishing but we hope it is at least intelligible. Eleven years ago the final document of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Eruope was signed in Helsinki, yet today there is considerable less security and cooperation on our continent than there was in 1975. Military thinking has increasingly come to dominate over civilian thinking. In our view the blame for this cannot be put onto one side only. Both superpowers and their military blocs are continually contributing to the arms race. Both sides are conducting a policy of confrontation rather than one of cooperation. And seen in a world wide view both of them violate human rights and the right of self-determination of peoples in their respective spheres of influence. Both sides must fundamentally alter their policy if there is to be real peace and security in Europe and all over the world. We, citi cens of all parts of a still divided Europe, address therefore 35 ourselves - to the peoples of all countries taking part in the Helsinki process and to their elected representatives ; - to political parties, trade unions, churches, youth organisations and other institutions%;B - to the multitude of citi cens initiatives and independent organisations that came into existence since the Helsinki conference; - and last but not least to the governments of all countries whose representatives are going to meet again in the Helsinki follow-up conference in Vienna in November 1986.
PXL_20250625_121417436.jpg
====================
JNTRODUCTION -2(Draft) GIVING REAL LIFE TO THE HELSINKI ACCORDS A memorandum to the European peoples and governments Note to the reader: While the introduction, part I (European security) and part III (Human rights) were intensively discussed in the drafting committee, part II (cooperation in economy, ecology, science and culture) could not be discussed owing to lack of time. In order to avoid further delay in a broader discussion of the draft we submit it here with a very incomplete part II which certainly will need thorough discussion and supplementation. It might be considered to restructure the whole part II and divide it into three compact subunits (economy, ecology, science and culture).. The English language of our text certainly will need a thorough polishing but we hope it is at least intelligible. Eleven years ago the final document of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Eruope was signed in Helsinki, yet today there is considerable less security and cooperation on our continent than there was in 1975. Military thinking has increasingly come to dominate over civilian thinking. In our view the blame for this cannot be put onto one side only. Both superpowers and their military blocs are continually contributing to the arms race. Both sides are conducting a policy of confrontation rather than one of cooperation. And seen in a world wide view both of them violate human rights and the right of self-determination of peoples in their respective spheres of influence. Both sides must fundamentally alter their policy if there is to be real peace and security in Europe and all over the world. We, citi cens of all parts of a still divided Europe, address therefore 35 ourselves - to the peoples of all countries taking part in the Helsinki process and to their elected representatives ; - to political parties, trade unions, churches, youth organisations and other institutions%;B - to the multitude of citi cens initiatives and independent organisations that came into existence since the Helsinki conference; - and last but not least to the governments of all countries whose representatives are going to meet again in the Helsinki follow-up conference in Vienna in November 1986.
====================
PXL_20250625_121426393.jpg
====================
-5Whilst rejecting the use of force in international relations the Helsinki agreement does not preclude a change of frontiers by mutual agreement nor changes of social structure of its member states. As a novum in diplomatic history it consideres societies and even individuals as subjects,) →thus putting relations between individuals and their governments and principles of democracy and self-determination on an equal level with relations between states. By all this it opens the door for a peaceful and gradual progress towards a pluralistic Europe recognizing the sovergeignty and territorial integrity of all its countries, the right of self-determination of all its peoples, and the basic human rights of all its citi cens. For us the three "baskets" of the Helsinki agreement (security, cooperation, human rights) form a unity. We therefore decidedly reject any tendency to play off one of them against the other. We do not exclude first steps to "break the ice" in any one of the "baskets" and would welcome any progress. But we strongly oppose the idea that West the/should "buy" a lasting detente at the cost of playing down on the questions of human rights. Peace and security, detente and cooperation, human rights and the self-determination of peoples can most easily be achieved all together. Drawbacks in any one of these spheres have their negative effects on all others. or Ex indeed could So far the most urgent problems of disarmement are not discussed within the framework of the Helsinki process. While we do not want to suggest that the main obstacle for -6real progress is the present institutional framework we do have major reservations when only the super powers amongst themselves are negotiating on issues concerning the fate of all Europe and indeed of all mankind. We therefore appeal to the citicens, the political institutions and the governments of all Helsinki countries to raise up their voices and use all their influence in order that a real breakthrough towards peace and detente be achieved. We oppose bipolarity, bloc logic and any attempt of the super powers to dominate over other countries either singly or jointly, but we do not in any way advocate a Europe in confrontation with either the USA or the Soviet Union. What we are hoping for and working for is a world of just and equitable /cooperation between the super powers, between both. of them and the European countries, between the European countries themselves and last but not least between the industrialized North and the Third World. The Helsinki Accords provide an excellent framework for such a cooperation, this yet to achieve all partners involved. has trust is needed between Such mutual trust to be built foremost between people and not merely on the diplomatic plane. To contribute to this goal many of us have followed the Appeal for a Nuclear Weapons Free Europe (END-Appeal) that we must start to act as if a united, neutral, and peaceful Europe were already in existence. In doing so we were repeatedly confronted with the harsh realities of the present situation. Still we are convinced that such efforts are helping to establish many new grass roots contacts and to prepare the
PXL_20250625_121426393.jpg
====================
-5Whilst rejecting the use of force in international relations the Helsinki agreement does not preclude a change of frontiers by mutual agreement nor changes of social structure of its member states. As a novum in diplomatic history it consideres societies and even individuals as subjects,) →thus putting relations between individuals and their governments and principles of democracy and self-determination on an equal level with relations between states. By all this it opens the door for a peaceful and gradual progress towards a pluralistic Europe recognizing the sovergeignty and territorial integrity of all its countries, the right of self-determination of all its peoples, and the basic human rights of all its citi cens. For us the three "baskets" of the Helsinki agreement (security, cooperation, human rights) form a unity. We therefore decidedly reject any tendency to play off one of them against the other. We do not exclude first steps to "break the ice" in any one of the "baskets" and would welcome any progress. But we strongly oppose the idea that West the/should "buy" a lasting detente at the cost of playing down on the questions of human rights. Peace and security, detente and cooperation, human rights and the self-determination of peoples can most easily be achieved all together. Drawbacks in any one of these spheres have their negative effects on all others. or Ex indeed could So far the most urgent problems of disarmement are not discussed within the framework of the Helsinki process. While we do not want to suggest that the main obstacle for -6real progress is the present institutional framework we do have major reservations when only the super powers amongst themselves are negotiating on issues concerning the fate of all Europe and indeed of all mankind. We therefore appeal to the citicens, the political institutions and the governments of all Helsinki countries to raise up their voices and use all their influence in order that a real breakthrough towards peace and detente be achieved. We oppose bipolarity, bloc logic and any attempt of the super powers to dominate over other countries either singly or jointly, but we do not in any way advocate a Europe in confrontation with either the USA or the Soviet Union. What we are hoping for and working for is a world of just and equitable /cooperation between the super powers, between both. of them and the European countries, between the European countries themselves and last but not least between the industrialized North and the Third World. The Helsinki Accords provide an excellent framework for such a cooperation, this yet to achieve all partners involved. has trust is needed between Such mutual trust to be built foremost between people and not merely on the diplomatic plane. To contribute to this goal many of us have followed the Appeal for a Nuclear Weapons Free Europe (END-Appeal) that we must start to act as if a united, neutral, and peaceful Europe were already in existence. In doing so we were repeatedly confronted with the harsh realities of the present situation. Still we are convinced that such efforts are helping to establish many new grass roots contacts and to prepare the
====================
PXL_20250625_121431673.jpg
====================
-7way for closing the rift dividing our continent. We are learning, as the END-Appeal demands, to be loyal not only Own to our country, our own bloc or political camp, but first of all to each other. The Europe we envisage would no longer be divided into blocs and would consist of democratic, fully sovereign and peaceful countries with a low and non-aggressive military potential countries that do not belong tá any military alliance and have no special preferential ties to one of the super powers. The USSR which geographically and culturally is of course a part of Europe would retain its status as a major world power like the USA - at least for some time though both of them at a much lower level of armaments than today. Such a Europe that no longer would be a field of EastWest confrontation would have good preconditions to go new ways in the North-South relations as well. It could, 1d/become a pace-maker for political equality amd economic justice in our dealings with the Third World. Establishing such a new Europe of interdependence would be a major step towards a world without wars. FIRST PART -8I. European security For decades an arms race as never before in history has been going on all over the world. Every country justifies its own armament steps as being an answer to some previous step of another country and therefore necessary to maintain its own security yet in fact security is rapidly diminishing for all countries of the world. Exhausted and confused nations continue to flee upwards in the turns of the spiral of deterrence. As increasingly irrational levels of horror are reached, one is no longer afraid of each other - rather there is a spreading fear of the common fate hidden in the horrible spiral. The rivalery of the two blocs and the activity of the politicians in East and West have substantially increased the deadly threat to Europeans. In our view security cannot be based on deterrence and on mutual threats of anihilation but only on common efforts to restore a climate of detente and mutual trust and to achieve major progress in disarmament on all levels. Nuclear war will not be prevented by preparing for it. In the last years high ranking persons in the USA started speaking about the option of a nuclear war limited to the "European theatre". The USSR while denouncing such ideas on the political plane is nevertheless preparing for them on the military level. Thus the big powers act today as if they wanted to make a limita nuclear war feasible in spite of scientific evidence that even a war using only
PXL_20250625_121431673.jpg
====================
-7way for closing the rift dividing our continent. We are learning, as the END-Appeal demands, to be loyal not only Own to our country, our own bloc or political camp, but first of all to each other. The Europe we envisage would no longer be divided into blocs and would consist of democratic, fully sovereign and peaceful countries with a low and non-aggressive military potential countries that do not belong tá any military alliance and have no special preferential ties to one of the super powers. The USSR which geographically and culturally is of course a part of Europe would retain its status as a major world power like the USA - at least for some time though both of them at a much lower level of armaments than today. Such a Europe that no longer would be a field of EastWest confrontation would have good preconditions to go new ways in the North-South relations as well. It could, 1d/become a pace-maker for political equality amd economic justice in our dealings with the Third World. Establishing such a new Europe of interdependence would be a major step towards a world without wars. FIRST PART -8I. European security For decades an arms race as never before in history has been going on all over the world. Every country justifies its own armament steps as being an answer to some previous step of another country and therefore necessary to maintain its own security yet in fact security is rapidly diminishing for all countries of the world. Exhausted and confused nations continue to flee upwards in the turns of the spiral of deterrence. As increasingly irrational levels of horror are reached, one is no longer afraid of each other - rather there is a spreading fear of the common fate hidden in the horrible spiral. The rivalery of the two blocs and the activity of the politicians in East and West have substantially increased the deadly threat to Europeans. In our view security cannot be based on deterrence and on mutual threats of anihilation but only on common efforts to restore a climate of detente and mutual trust and to achieve major progress in disarmament on all levels. Nuclear war will not be prevented by preparing for it. In the last years high ranking persons in the USA started speaking about the option of a nuclear war limited to the "European theatre". The USSR while denouncing such ideas on the political plane is nevertheless preparing for them on the military level. Thus the big powers act today as if they wanted to make a limita nuclear war feasible in spite of scientific evidence that even a war using only
====================
PXL_20250625_121447472.jpg
====================
-9a tenth of the existing nuclear potential most probably would cause a "nuclear winter" that would make human existence impossible in the northern hemisphere (even in countries that were not hit by any bomb) and maybe even on the whole globe. Meanwhile a further round of the arms race is being prepared in space which would further destabilize the military situation while straining to the utmost the economic resources of even the richest countries, thus destabilizing the entire framework of world economy. are Serious negotiations between the super powers have now been resumed, but so far not brought any tangible result. Past experience tells us that real progress cannot be ex/subjected to pected from such negotiations unless they continuous and intense public pressure. It must however be emphasized that mere measures of "arms control" and even a total "freeze" of armaments on all levels would not be sufficient to remove the grave dangers inherent in the present situation. If peace in Europe and in the whole world is to rest on a solid base all parties concerned must recognize that the tremendous number of arms of all kind now concentrated on our continent needs to be drastically reduced. This requires first and foremost a reduction of the arsenals of the super powers, but it concerns other countries as well. Europe While welcoming any efforts to increase the economic and political independence of European states we decidedly reject all ideas of a militarily strong meaning Western Europe that would not be dependent on third American protection. Western Europe as a superpower would only increase the dangers threatening -10Similarly we reject the idea that Britain and France as they claim need their own nuclear deterrents to preserve their independence. Accepting such a philosophy would mean that every country in the world needs nuclear weapons. By their present armament policy these countries do not enhance but endanger their own security and that of all Europe. To achieve real security on our continent Britain and France must be prepared to contribute their fair share to a general process of disarmement. Spectacular first steps in disarmement may be necessary, but they are not sufficient to ban the ever present threat of mutual anihilation. Concentrating on only one aspect of the arms race, be it Eurostrategic missiles or Star Wars or any other aspect therefore is, in our view, an all too narrow strategy for the peace movement. What is needed is a whole package of interrelated steps - first of all on the political and not only on the military plane - measures to promote detente, to restore mutual trust and to reduce armaments. Our proposals should therefore not be considered as a mere enumeration of desirable measures, but as an ensemble, the total effect of which would be much more than the sum of its parts. Central elements for a peace program addressed to movements and governments Comprehensive test ban treaty A draft text for such a treaty is practically ready for signing, but the USA and Great Britain now want our continent.
PXL_20250625_121447472.jpg
====================
-9a tenth of the existing nuclear potential most probably would cause a "nuclear winter" that would make human existence impossible in the northern hemisphere (even in countries that were not hit by any bomb) and maybe even on the whole globe. Meanwhile a further round of the arms race is being prepared in space which would further destabilize the military situation while straining to the utmost the economic resources of even the richest countries, thus destabilizing the entire framework of world economy. are Serious negotiations between the super powers have now been resumed, but so far not brought any tangible result. Past experience tells us that real progress cannot be ex/subjected to pected from such negotiations unless they continuous and intense public pressure. It must however be emphasized that mere measures of "arms control" and even a total "freeze" of armaments on all levels would not be sufficient to remove the grave dangers inherent in the present situation. If peace in Europe and in the whole world is to rest on a solid base all parties concerned must recognize that the tremendous number of arms of all kind now concentrated on our continent needs to be drastically reduced. This requires first and foremost a reduction of the arsenals of the super powers, but it concerns other countries as well. Europe While welcoming any efforts to increase the economic and political independence of European states we decidedly reject all ideas of a militarily strong meaning Western Europe that would not be dependent on third American protection. Western Europe as a superpower would only increase the dangers threatening -10Similarly we reject the idea that Britain and France as they claim need their own nuclear deterrents to preserve their independence. Accepting such a philosophy would mean that every country in the world needs nuclear weapons. By their present armament policy these countries do not enhance but endanger their own security and that of all Europe. To achieve real security on our continent Britain and France must be prepared to contribute their fair share to a general process of disarmement. Spectacular first steps in disarmement may be necessary, but they are not sufficient to ban the ever present threat of mutual anihilation. Concentrating on only one aspect of the arms race, be it Eurostrategic missiles or Star Wars or any other aspect therefore is, in our view, an all too narrow strategy for the peace movement. What is needed is a whole package of interrelated steps - first of all on the political and not only on the military plane - measures to promote detente, to restore mutual trust and to reduce armaments. Our proposals should therefore not be considered as a mere enumeration of desirable measures, but as an ensemble, the total effect of which would be much more than the sum of its parts. Central elements for a peace program addressed to movements and governments Comprehensive test ban treaty A draft text for such a treaty is practically ready for signing, but the USA and Great Britain now want our continent.
====================
PXL_20250625_121453313.jpg
====================
-11to raise once more the problems of control - even though scientists all over the world agree that these problems are solved. It seems that the big powers hesitate to agree on this treaty because they want to keep the door open for the testing of new kinds of nuclear weapons. The accession of France and China to such a treaty would be of major importance. By doing so they would do much more for their own security and that of all mankind than by continuing nuclear weapons testing. No arms race in space This requires the controlled destruction of all existing space weapons like killer satellites and a total ban on research and development of all offensive and defensive space weapons systems. In the present situation there should be no support of West European countries for the American SDI program nor any military implications in the Eureka program or any other future European space ventures. Manned space flights should serve non-military purposes only and be subjected to stringent international control. A total ban on all medium range nuclear weapons Medium range "Eurostrategic" nuclear weapons are the most destabilizing element in the present military situation. Their mere existence puts a big premium on first strike strategies. They must be launched before they are destroyed by approaching missiles of the other side and when such an approach is detected there is not enough time left to launch them. In such a situation. technical hitches and/or human errors may cause a nuclear -12holocaust even by mistake. A mere reduction of the number of these missiles would not remove this danger. We therefore demand a complete ban of all medium range ("Eurostrategic") carriers of nuclear warheads stationed in or directed at targets in Europe as a first step to a complete ban of such weapons all over the world. Such an agreement should include all kinds of nuclear weapons with a short approach and/or warning time, be they land-, sea-, or airbased, American and Soviet weapons as well as British and French (and Chinese in case of a world wide agreement). Reduction of the number of these weapons could only be a first step. In a second step they should be withdrawn soon afterwards to their respective home countries or home territorial waters and finally be destroyed under international control. A substantial reduction of troops in Europe Negotiations on this topic are going on in Vienna for many years without appreciable progress. This is not due to inherent technical difficulties but first of all to lack of good will on both sides. We propose that a reduction of troops should go on simultaneously with a reduction of nuclear weapons and that an agreement should include provisions to reduce the time of military service. A "double" no first use declaration for nuclear and conventional weapons In the Stockholm CSCE conference on trust building it/ measures and security the USSR declared that would not discuss problems of notification and mutual inspection of manoeuvres unless the Western powers were willing to discuss a no first use declarations for nuclear weapons which
PXL_20250625_121453313.jpg
====================
-11to raise once more the problems of control - even though scientists all over the world agree that these problems are solved. It seems that the big powers hesitate to agree on this treaty because they want to keep the door open for the testing of new kinds of nuclear weapons. The accession of France and China to such a treaty would be of major importance. By doing so they would do much more for their own security and that of all mankind than by continuing nuclear weapons testing. No arms race in space This requires the controlled destruction of all existing space weapons like killer satellites and a total ban on research and development of all offensive and defensive space weapons systems. In the present situation there should be no support of West European countries for the American SDI program nor any military implications in the Eureka program or any other future European space ventures. Manned space flights should serve non-military purposes only and be subjected to stringent international control. A total ban on all medium range nuclear weapons Medium range "Eurostrategic" nuclear weapons are the most destabilizing element in the present military situation. Their mere existence puts a big premium on first strike strategies. They must be launched before they are destroyed by approaching missiles of the other side and when such an approach is detected there is not enough time left to launch them. In such a situation. technical hitches and/or human errors may cause a nuclear -12holocaust even by mistake. A mere reduction of the number of these missiles would not remove this danger. We therefore demand a complete ban of all medium range ("Eurostrategic") carriers of nuclear warheads stationed in or directed at targets in Europe as a first step to a complete ban of such weapons all over the world. Such an agreement should include all kinds of nuclear weapons with a short approach and/or warning time, be they land-, sea-, or airbased, American and Soviet weapons as well as British and French (and Chinese in case of a world wide agreement). Reduction of the number of these weapons could only be a first step. In a second step they should be withdrawn soon afterwards to their respective home countries or home territorial waters and finally be destroyed under international control. A substantial reduction of troops in Europe Negotiations on this topic are going on in Vienna for many years without appreciable progress. This is not due to inherent technical difficulties but first of all to lack of good will on both sides. We propose that a reduction of troops should go on simultaneously with a reduction of nuclear weapons and that an agreement should include provisions to reduce the time of military service. A "double" no first use declaration for nuclear and conventional weapons In the Stockholm CSCE conference on trust building it/ measures and security the USSR declared that would not discuss problems of notification and mutual inspection of manoeuvres unless the Western powers were willing to discuss a no first use declarations for nuclear weapons which
====================
PXL_20250625_121508274.jpg
====================
-13they so far refused. Some of us believe that a way out of this deadlock might be to propose a "double" no first use declaration comprising all forms of attack, with nuclear as well as with conventional weapons. us u think that in the present situation Others amongst which gives a premium on first strike strategies any such declaration would be sheer hypocrisy. Only after a complete destruction of all Eurostrategic weapons with short approach and/or warning time a no first use declaration might have a certain symbolic value, but further real acts of disarmement would be much more important than verbal committments to good intent. Strengthening non-proliferation All Helsinki countries, especially France, should join the Non-Proliferation Treaty. All Helsinki countries should use their influence to achieve a further tightening of this treaty especially concerning control of enrichement and reprocessing plants. which easily can become plants producing raw material for the construction of such plants should be forbidden to countries that have not ratified the non-proliferation treaty. nuclear weapons. Export of or technical assistance for/t Reduction of arms' exports This is especially urgent for regions of tension in the Third World where governments spend large shares of their meagre budgets to procure modern weapons. The gulf war one of the largest wars since 1945 - could not go on so long if high technology weapons were not continually sold to both belligerente. Even statesmen who, on the political -14plane, make serious efforts to promote peace in regions like the Middle East do have in their entourage representatives of their weapons industry when visiting such countries. Most major weapon producers being within the Helsinki framework an agreement reached there would be of world wide importance. Establishment of zones without nuclear weapons and with reduced military potential atomic mines or any other In such zones there should not be nuclear weapons or carriers for nuclear warheads, no other means of mass destruction like poison gas and a reduced number of conventional weapons and troops. Countries belonging to such zones should organize their armies according to the principles of a purely defensive strategy. To start with these could be rather small zones like the Palme corridor or a zone around Austria (which itrenounced self renamed to nuclear weapons in the state treaty of 1955). In a latter stage a Central European zone as proposed in the Rapacki Plan (FGR, GDR, CSSR, Poland) and zones in Northern Europe, on the Balkan peninsula, and in the Mediterranean basin should be established. An agreement on norms for a "defensive" army In our view the establishment of generally agreed and controllable specifications characterizing a purely defensive army that constitutes no threat to neighbouring countries though able to defend its own teritory would be a major breakthrough to increase mutual trust and enhance disarmament. Such norms would have to refer to technology (armament types and logistics), organisational structure
PXL_20250625_121508274.jpg
====================
-13they so far refused. Some of us believe that a way out of this deadlock might be to propose a "double" no first use declaration comprising all forms of attack, with nuclear as well as with conventional weapons. us u think that in the present situation Others amongst which gives a premium on first strike strategies any such declaration would be sheer hypocrisy. Only after a complete destruction of all Eurostrategic weapons with short approach and/or warning time a no first use declaration might have a certain symbolic value, but further real acts of disarmement would be much more important than verbal committments to good intent. Strengthening non-proliferation All Helsinki countries, especially France, should join the Non-Proliferation Treaty. All Helsinki countries should use their influence to achieve a further tightening of this treaty especially concerning control of enrichement and reprocessing plants. which easily can become plants producing raw material for the construction of such plants should be forbidden to countries that have not ratified the non-proliferation treaty. nuclear weapons. Export of or technical assistance for/t Reduction of arms' exports This is especially urgent for regions of tension in the Third World where governments spend large shares of their meagre budgets to procure modern weapons. The gulf war one of the largest wars since 1945 - could not go on so long if high technology weapons were not continually sold to both belligerente. Even statesmen who, on the political -14plane, make serious efforts to promote peace in regions like the Middle East do have in their entourage representatives of their weapons industry when visiting such countries. Most major weapon producers being within the Helsinki framework an agreement reached there would be of world wide importance. Establishment of zones without nuclear weapons and with reduced military potential atomic mines or any other In such zones there should not be nuclear weapons or carriers for nuclear warheads, no other means of mass destruction like poison gas and a reduced number of conventional weapons and troops. Countries belonging to such zones should organize their armies according to the principles of a purely defensive strategy. To start with these could be rather small zones like the Palme corridor or a zone around Austria (which itrenounced self renamed to nuclear weapons in the state treaty of 1955). In a latter stage a Central European zone as proposed in the Rapacki Plan (FGR, GDR, CSSR, Poland) and zones in Northern Europe, on the Balkan peninsula, and in the Mediterranean basin should be established. An agreement on norms for a "defensive" army In our view the establishment of generally agreed and controllable specifications characterizing a purely defensive army that constitutes no threat to neighbouring countries though able to defend its own teritory would be a major breakthrough to increase mutual trust and enhance disarmament. Such norms would have to refer to technology (armament types and logistics), organisational structure
====================
PXL_20250625_121513006.jpg
====================
-15and military doctrine of a defence force. They should be supplemented by stipulations on previous announcement. and mutual inspection of military manoeuvres and on other trust building measures. A total ban of all chemical, biological and environmental weapons This should include research, production and use of such weapons and controlled destruction of existing stockpiles. We appeal to scientists all over the world to investigate ways how the complicated problems of controlling and veryfying such agreements could be solved. A "freezing" and subsequent reduction of intercontinental missiles and their warheads This should be negotiated between the two super powers with all other countries obliging themselves not to construct intercontinental missiles. Publication and reduction of military expenditure Never before in human history has so much money been spent in peace time on weapons research and production. All Helsinki states should agree to publish their military budgets and/ open them to public scrutiny. Military expenditure should be reduced at least by a fixed percentage in all Helsinki states. The money thus saved should be used preferentially to quickly solve grave Social and Yenvironmental problems. Further, a substantial amount of this money should be earmarked for a special CSCE fund for the Third World to give interest free loans to remain permanently in the receiver countries. -16No militarization of society Military-industrial complexes and the growing militarization of politics have gained tremendous influence in societies both East and West. Militarization of society is felt as a pressing problem by large sections of the societies in the Eastern half of Europe whereas it often has more subtile forms in the West. In our view all Helsinki countries should agree to - ban para-military organizations; have no pre-military training or educations in schools, universities or at the working places; - ban the dissemination of racial, national, religious or ideological hatred and the creation of "enemy from images" from schools and all mass media; - ban the dissemination of military toys and of com puterized war games. Full citi cen's rights for soldiers Helsinki countries should agree to give to their soldiers full citicen's rights; there should be no special military courts or jurisdication; soldiers should have the right to have quasi-trade-union organisations with elected "shop stewards" etc. protected by the law. Free activities for peace groups Peace groups in Western parliamentary democracies can as a rule carry out their activities without interference. Official violence like the terroristic acts of the French secret service against Greenpeace activists preparing a peaceful demonstration against French nuclear bomb tests
PXL_20250625_121513006.jpg
====================
-15and military doctrine of a defence force. They should be supplemented by stipulations on previous announcement. and mutual inspection of military manoeuvres and on other trust building measures. A total ban of all chemical, biological and environmental weapons This should include research, production and use of such weapons and controlled destruction of existing stockpiles. We appeal to scientists all over the world to investigate ways how the complicated problems of controlling and veryfying such agreements could be solved. A "freezing" and subsequent reduction of intercontinental missiles and their warheads This should be negotiated between the two super powers with all other countries obliging themselves not to construct intercontinental missiles. Publication and reduction of military expenditure Never before in human history has so much money been spent in peace time on weapons research and production. All Helsinki states should agree to publish their military budgets and/ open them to public scrutiny. Military expenditure should be reduced at least by a fixed percentage in all Helsinki states. The money thus saved should be used preferentially to quickly solve grave Social and Yenvironmental problems. Further, a substantial amount of this money should be earmarked for a special CSCE fund for the Third World to give interest free loans to remain permanently in the receiver countries. -16No militarization of society Military-industrial complexes and the growing militarization of politics have gained tremendous influence in societies both East and West. Militarization of society is felt as a pressing problem by large sections of the societies in the Eastern half of Europe whereas it often has more subtile forms in the West. In our view all Helsinki countries should agree to - ban para-military organizations; have no pre-military training or educations in schools, universities or at the working places; - ban the dissemination of racial, national, religious or ideological hatred and the creation of "enemy from images" from schools and all mass media; - ban the dissemination of military toys and of com puterized war games. Full citi cen's rights for soldiers Helsinki countries should agree to give to their soldiers full citicen's rights; there should be no special military courts or jurisdication; soldiers should have the right to have quasi-trade-union organisations with elected "shop stewards" etc. protected by the law. Free activities for peace groups Peace groups in Western parliamentary democracies can as a rule carry out their activities without interference. Official violence like the terroristic acts of the French secret service against Greenpeace activists preparing a peaceful demonstration against French nuclear bomb tests
====================
PXL_20250625_121520489.jpg
====================
-17are an exception rather than a rule though people active occasionally in the peace movement might/risk to be victimes of various acts of discrimination. and in Turkey In the Eastern half of Europe/opportunities for independent peace activists to organize, disseminate their views, hold manifestations etc. are severely restricted or totally lacking. People active in this field risk to be subjected to all sorts of repression to lose their jobs, to be forced to emigrate, to be sent to psychatric institutions or to prisons. We decidedly reject the view advanced by official Easterr peace councils that independent peace groups in their countries "represent nobody". Actually many small peace groups in the East as well as in the West - represent a widespread mood that people themselves must do something against the ever growing danger of war. We demand the right of unhampered activities for peace groups in all Helsinki countries. This includes the right of different groups of one country or of different countries to meet together, to exchange experiences and to take part in common activities. Suggestions for activities on non-governmental level The main instument for individuals and groups who want to promote peace in an independent way is to mobilize public opinion in order to continually put pressure on the governments. There are however things we can do ourselves without waiting for the governments - activities on a non-governmental level to promote mutual understanding, -18to contribute to an improvement of the international cliinsight int the most mate and to deepen our own into/ pressing problems. We therefore submit to peace activists and the public in all Helsinki countries some suggestions and hope that they will be supplemented by many more ideas and initiatives. Independent disarmament agencies A non-governmental CSCE Disarmament Agency shauld be set up consisting of representatives of independent peace national and and citi cens' groups in East and West, international peace research institutes (like for example SIPRI) and scientists acquainted with relevant topics. It should critically analyze the work and progress of the CSCE process and also submit independent proposals. Peace education meet to Pedagogues from all parts of Europe should regularily exchange experiences on peace education and to critically examine school curricula and teaching practices in the Helsinki countries. Trans-frontier peace activities International peace camps and trans-frontier peace manifestations are, in our view, an important contribution to promote mutual understanding and establish transfrontier grass root contacts. Governments should be pressed hard to allow such activities especially in regions of tension. Armament conversion People active in the field of converting arms production to production of civilian goods should meet reto gularily /exchange experiences and discuss projects.
PXL_20250625_121520489.jpg
====================
-17are an exception rather than a rule though people active occasionally in the peace movement might/risk to be victimes of various acts of discrimination. and in Turkey In the Eastern half of Europe/opportunities for independent peace activists to organize, disseminate their views, hold manifestations etc. are severely restricted or totally lacking. People active in this field risk to be subjected to all sorts of repression to lose their jobs, to be forced to emigrate, to be sent to psychatric institutions or to prisons. We decidedly reject the view advanced by official Easterr peace councils that independent peace groups in their countries "represent nobody". Actually many small peace groups in the East as well as in the West - represent a widespread mood that people themselves must do something against the ever growing danger of war. We demand the right of unhampered activities for peace groups in all Helsinki countries. This includes the right of different groups of one country or of different countries to meet together, to exchange experiences and to take part in common activities. Suggestions for activities on non-governmental level The main instument for individuals and groups who want to promote peace in an independent way is to mobilize public opinion in order to continually put pressure on the governments. There are however things we can do ourselves without waiting for the governments - activities on a non-governmental level to promote mutual understanding, -18to contribute to an improvement of the international cliinsight int the most mate and to deepen our own into/ pressing problems. We therefore submit to peace activists and the public in all Helsinki countries some suggestions and hope that they will be supplemented by many more ideas and initiatives. Independent disarmament agencies A non-governmental CSCE Disarmament Agency shauld be set up consisting of representatives of independent peace national and and citi cens' groups in East and West, international peace research institutes (like for example SIPRI) and scientists acquainted with relevant topics. It should critically analyze the work and progress of the CSCE process and also submit independent proposals. Peace education meet to Pedagogues from all parts of Europe should regularily exchange experiences on peace education and to critically examine school curricula and teaching practices in the Helsinki countries. Trans-frontier peace activities International peace camps and trans-frontier peace manifestations are, in our view, an important contribution to promote mutual understanding and establish transfrontier grass root contacts. Governments should be pressed hard to allow such activities especially in regions of tension. Armament conversion People active in the field of converting arms production to production of civilian goods should meet reto gularily /exchange experiences and discuss projects.
====================
PXL_20250625_121525284.jpg
====================
Symbolic acts -19We support campaings for the conclusion of individual peace treaties between persons living in different countries; for twinning towns in East and West and establishing citicens contacts; and for common declarations of such twin towns to be nuclear weapon free. Though such acts have only symbolic character, they do contribute to a general change of so urgently needed to preserve peace. Long term goals mind,/ In a longer perspective we envisage three major interdependent steps to promote peace and security in Europe and to overcome its present division: - a major reduction and finally a complete withdrawal of all foreign weapons and foreign troops from all European countries; a dissolution of the NATO and the Warsaw Pact and all other bilateral and multilateral military treaties ; the establishment of a belt of permanently neutral or non-aligned countries from Scandinavia to the Balkan peninsula; all these countries would have no nuclear weapons and a low and non-aggressive defence / potential. The realisation of these steps would pave the way for a Europe free of nuclear weapons from the Atlantic to the Ural. Our final goal is general and complete world wide disarmament and a world without wars. 20SECOND PART II. Cooperation in economy, ecology, science and culture The Helsinki agreement was signed after the first oil shock at the beginning of a period of grave problems for world economy. Hopes that it would bring a remarkable in-. crease in East-West trade and economic cooperation thus were not realistic. In times of rld wide recession foreign trade generally declines. Some of the reasons for the continuing of recession are purely economical and outside the scope of the Helsinki Accords as f. 1. the second oil shock. Others however are not and indeed show very impressively the interdependence of the three Helsink "baskets". US military expenditure has increased dramatically in the last years, thus ousting President Reagan's announced intention to have a balanced budget - in spite of severe cuts of expenditure for social services, public health, education etc. Deficits of the American budget are higher than ever before and will continue to grow enormously if the star wars program should be implemented. While this has given some growth incentives to US economy, albeit at very high social costs, it drives up interest rates all over the world, thus aggravating existing inbalances in world economy. Actually by this state of affairs all countries of the world - including even Warsaw Pact coun tries are forced to indirectly contribute a share to American military expenditure to the detriment of their own economies.
PXL_20250625_121525284.jpg
====================
Symbolic acts -19We support campaings for the conclusion of individual peace treaties between persons living in different countries; for twinning towns in East and West and establishing citicens contacts; and for common declarations of such twin towns to be nuclear weapon free. Though such acts have only symbolic character, they do contribute to a general change of so urgently needed to preserve peace. Long term goals mind,/ In a longer perspective we envisage three major interdependent steps to promote peace and security in Europe and to overcome its present division: - a major reduction and finally a complete withdrawal of all foreign weapons and foreign troops from all European countries; a dissolution of the NATO and the Warsaw Pact and all other bilateral and multilateral military treaties ; the establishment of a belt of permanently neutral or non-aligned countries from Scandinavia to the Balkan peninsula; all these countries would have no nuclear weapons and a low and non-aggressive defence / potential. The realisation of these steps would pave the way for a Europe free of nuclear weapons from the Atlantic to the Ural. Our final goal is general and complete world wide disarmament and a world without wars. 20SECOND PART II. Cooperation in economy, ecology, science and culture The Helsinki agreement was signed after the first oil shock at the beginning of a period of grave problems for world economy. Hopes that it would bring a remarkable in-. crease in East-West trade and economic cooperation thus were not realistic. In times of rld wide recession foreign trade generally declines. Some of the reasons for the continuing of recession are purely economical and outside the scope of the Helsinki Accords as f. 1. the second oil shock. Others however are not and indeed show very impressively the interdependence of the three Helsink "baskets". US military expenditure has increased dramatically in the last years, thus ousting President Reagan's announced intention to have a balanced budget - in spite of severe cuts of expenditure for social services, public health, education etc. Deficits of the American budget are higher than ever before and will continue to grow enormously if the star wars program should be implemented. While this has given some growth incentives to US economy, albeit at very high social costs, it drives up interest rates all over the world, thus aggravating existing inbalances in world economy. Actually by this state of affairs all countries of the world - including even Warsaw Pact coun tries are forced to indirectly contribute a share to American military expenditure to the detriment of their own economies.
====================
PXL_20250625_121535112.jpg
====================
-21Interdependence of the Helsinki baskets has been evoked as a principle of American policy when trade sanctions more a powere announced following the events in Afghanistan and in Poland. In our view such a policy is utterly futile and counterproductive. It only tends to strengthen the position of hard-liners in the Warsaw Pact states without in any way improving the lots of their peoples. For those who really want to promote peace in Afghanistan and to improve the human rights' situation in Poland - and not only to use these issues for their propaganda purposes licy of detente seems to be muchmore rewarding. of the baskets Interdependence/is indeed both ways. While a policy of detente would increase the chances for East-West trade at least if general economic conditions are favourable growing cooperation in economy and other fields on their part would lead to a certain amount of interdependence between the states and thus contribute to put a policy of detente on a firmer base. Mutual trade relations create lobbies interested in maintaining favourable conditions for their trade as exemplified by US farming interests preventing a further tightening of US economic pressure on the Soviet Union. Obstacles to East-West trade are created also by factors immanent in the economic structure of the COMECON countries. Actually some of them cannot even fully utilize the meagre import quotas allocated to them by EEC countries owing to the poor quality of their manufactured goods and lack of skillful marketing. Moreover Eastern European economies are very much interested to import Western technology, but the single enterprise has no economic intentive to sell its -22products on the difficult markets of the West as long as it can find enough customers on the domestic markets or in other COMECON countries. As a consequence market shares of the smaller COMECON countries in Western Europe considerably declined between 1973 and 1982, only slightly recovering since. The USSR could hold its overall market position only thanks to its exports of gas and oil. The importance of these exports should not be overrated; they provide only for about 5% of West European energy consumption. These intrinsic mechanisms hampering East-West trade cannot in our view be overcome as long as COMECON contries stick to rigid centralized planing. Only by giving more independent responsibility to single enterprises could the situation be improved. Past experience tells us that such a "liberalization" in economy is inherently coupled with a general "liberalization" in society - showing again the interdependence of the three Helsinki baskets. X X X Economies in East and West with all their differences undifferentiated, quantitative are both dedicated to growth. Both of them have inbuilt - though different - mechanisms promoting a reckless squandering of natural resources. Both of them have not found so far effective ways to give economic incentives to enterprises in order that they themselves try to protect our environment. Both do not seem to fully realize that we are rapidly approaching the brink of a world wide environmental catastrophe. Air pollution is a plague all over our continent, destroying our forests and our buildings including cherished treasures of our cultural past and gravely endangering
PXL_20250625_121535112.jpg
====================
-21Interdependence of the Helsinki baskets has been evoked as a principle of American policy when trade sanctions more a powere announced following the events in Afghanistan and in Poland. In our view such a policy is utterly futile and counterproductive. It only tends to strengthen the position of hard-liners in the Warsaw Pact states without in any way improving the lots of their peoples. For those who really want to promote peace in Afghanistan and to improve the human rights' situation in Poland - and not only to use these issues for their propaganda purposes licy of detente seems to be muchmore rewarding. of the baskets Interdependence/is indeed both ways. While a policy of detente would increase the chances for East-West trade at least if general economic conditions are favourable growing cooperation in economy and other fields on their part would lead to a certain amount of interdependence between the states and thus contribute to put a policy of detente on a firmer base. Mutual trade relations create lobbies interested in maintaining favourable conditions for their trade as exemplified by US farming interests preventing a further tightening of US economic pressure on the Soviet Union. Obstacles to East-West trade are created also by factors immanent in the economic structure of the COMECON countries. Actually some of them cannot even fully utilize the meagre import quotas allocated to them by EEC countries owing to the poor quality of their manufactured goods and lack of skillful marketing. Moreover Eastern European economies are very much interested to import Western technology, but the single enterprise has no economic intentive to sell its -22products on the difficult markets of the West as long as it can find enough customers on the domestic markets or in other COMECON countries. As a consequence market shares of the smaller COMECON countries in Western Europe considerably declined between 1973 and 1982, only slightly recovering since. The USSR could hold its overall market position only thanks to its exports of gas and oil. The importance of these exports should not be overrated; they provide only for about 5% of West European energy consumption. These intrinsic mechanisms hampering East-West trade cannot in our view be overcome as long as COMECON contries stick to rigid centralized planing. Only by giving more independent responsibility to single enterprises could the situation be improved. Past experience tells us that such a "liberalization" in economy is inherently coupled with a general "liberalization" in society - showing again the interdependence of the three Helsinki baskets. X X X Economies in East and West with all their differences undifferentiated, quantitative are both dedicated to growth. Both of them have inbuilt - though different - mechanisms promoting a reckless squandering of natural resources. Both of them have not found so far effective ways to give economic incentives to enterprises in order that they themselves try to protect our environment. Both do not seem to fully realize that we are rapidly approaching the brink of a world wide environmental catastrophe. Air pollution is a plague all over our continent, destroying our forests and our buildings including cherished treasures of our cultural past and gravely endangering
====================
PXL_20250625_121540802.jpg
====================
-23human health. Water pollution transforms our lakes and rivers and even whole seas into poisonous stinking cesspools. Polluants do not know frontiers. There is urgent need for concerted international actions, yet in fact there is very little progress. A growing number of individuals and groups all over Europe is awakening to these problems. We think that all these "Greens" in the widest sense of the word ought to internationally coordinate their actions, to agree on priorities and to make their voices heard in order to counterbalance the pressure of vested interests and industrial lobbies in the East as well as in the West who continually oppose, openly and in many subtile ways, all efforts to save our environment for ourselves and for future generations. In order to promote cooperation in various fields we propose. Demands to governments - Trade should not be used as a weapon in the EastWest conflict. We therefore reject all forms of trade restrictions intended to use trade for political pressure. - The USSR and the other COMECON states should formally recognise the competence of the EEC in order to facilitate East-West trade relations. - A mantle agreement (? Rahmen abkommen) should be negotiated between EEC, EFTA and COMECON providing a framework for a general liberalization of East-West trade. 1 -24- The USSR and other COMECON countries should provide better economic information and statistics as was agreed in Helsinki but never implemented. Governments both East and West should improve the working conditions for representatives of foreign enterprises and provide adequate facilities like telex and telephone links etc. East-West joint ventures in third countries, in particular in the Third World should be supported bythe governments of the respecttive states. While welcoming the intention of the Helsinki states expressed in the final document of the Madrid CSCE conference to contribute to the creation of a new international economic order and to the implementation of the strategy for the Third Development Decade of the United Nations, we appeal to public opinion and institutions in all Helsinki countries to excert continual public pressure on those in power in order that these declaration be put into practice. Recomandations of the ECE and the Madrid CSCE conference concerning international cooperation in matters of environmental protection (air and water pollution, protection of fauna and flora etc.) should be speedily implemented. - A road traffic convention for the whole of Europe should be negotiated in the near future. It should contain relimits for speed, noise and exhaust fumes. The production and sale of vehicles not complying gulations on to these specifications should be banned.
PXL_20250625_121540802.jpg
====================
-23human health. Water pollution transforms our lakes and rivers and even whole seas into poisonous stinking cesspools. Polluants do not know frontiers. There is urgent need for concerted international actions, yet in fact there is very little progress. A growing number of individuals and groups all over Europe is awakening to these problems. We think that all these "Greens" in the widest sense of the word ought to internationally coordinate their actions, to agree on priorities and to make their voices heard in order to counterbalance the pressure of vested interests and industrial lobbies in the East as well as in the West who continually oppose, openly and in many subtile ways, all efforts to save our environment for ourselves and for future generations. In order to promote cooperation in various fields we propose. Demands to governments - Trade should not be used as a weapon in the EastWest conflict. We therefore reject all forms of trade restrictions intended to use trade for political pressure. - The USSR and the other COMECON states should formally recognise the competence of the EEC in order to facilitate East-West trade relations. - A mantle agreement (? Rahmen abkommen) should be negotiated between EEC, EFTA and COMECON providing a framework for a general liberalization of East-West trade. 1 -24- The USSR and other COMECON countries should provide better economic information and statistics as was agreed in Helsinki but never implemented. Governments both East and West should improve the working conditions for representatives of foreign enterprises and provide adequate facilities like telex and telephone links etc. East-West joint ventures in third countries, in particular in the Third World should be supported bythe governments of the respecttive states. While welcoming the intention of the Helsinki states expressed in the final document of the Madrid CSCE conference to contribute to the creation of a new international economic order and to the implementation of the strategy for the Third Development Decade of the United Nations, we appeal to public opinion and institutions in all Helsinki countries to excert continual public pressure on those in power in order that these declaration be put into practice. Recomandations of the ECE and the Madrid CSCE conference concerning international cooperation in matters of environmental protection (air and water pollution, protection of fauna and flora etc.) should be speedily implemented. - A road traffic convention for the whole of Europe should be negotiated in the near future. It should contain relimits for speed, noise and exhaust fumes. The production and sale of vehicles not complying gulations on to these specifications should be banned.
====================
PXL_20250625_121549011.jpg
====================
-25\for - International cooperation for the extension of existing and the creation of new "rolling roadways", i.e. railfor way transport facilities for loaded Lorries and cars, especially across mountain ranges, should be intensified. - Governments should implement without further delay exchange programs for scientists, artists, broadcast and television programs etc. More facilities should be created for learning the languages and studying the culture of smaller European nations in schools, universities and institutions for teaching adults. Special attention should be given to facilities to learn languages of respective neighbouring countries. -26groups, sports groups etc. beyond and in addition to official exchange programs - both locally across frontiers and over larger distances. In Western countries independent scientific and cultural institutes should earmark a certain amount of their funde for invitations of scientists, writers, artists, etc. of Eastern countries ies who are not included by their governments in official exchange programs for single lectures or short seminars as well as to stay abroad with a stipendium for a certain time. Activities on non-governmental level - Trade Unions and shop stewards from countries in East and West should form joint groups to study effects of rationalisation and the introduction of new technologies like micro-chips, problems of occupational health etc. - Independent scientists and non-governmental institutes should intensify/international cooperation to study burning ecological questions, define foci of most urgent action and to estimate long term social costs of a continued growth orientated economy. - All possibilities should be used for an exhange of scientists, artists, writers, folklore and theatre Long term goals The Europe we envisage consisting of peaceful non-aligned or neutral states would have to find appropriate forms of economic integration compatible with the political and societal status of its member states. In our view the positive achievements of a large common market ought to be extended as far as feasible. We do not see any insurmountable difficulty even for a permanently neutral state to join or associate with a common market organisation when blocks and military alliances have been dissolved and provided such a common market is not in a close economic alliance with one of the super powers.
PXL_20250625_121549011.jpg
====================
-25\for - International cooperation for the extension of existing and the creation of new "rolling roadways", i.e. railfor way transport facilities for loaded Lorries and cars, especially across mountain ranges, should be intensified. - Governments should implement without further delay exchange programs for scientists, artists, broadcast and television programs etc. More facilities should be created for learning the languages and studying the culture of smaller European nations in schools, universities and institutions for teaching adults. Special attention should be given to facilities to learn languages of respective neighbouring countries. -26groups, sports groups etc. beyond and in addition to official exchange programs - both locally across frontiers and over larger distances. In Western countries independent scientific and cultural institutes should earmark a certain amount of their funde for invitations of scientists, writers, artists, etc. of Eastern countries ies who are not included by their governments in official exchange programs for single lectures or short seminars as well as to stay abroad with a stipendium for a certain time. Activities on non-governmental level - Trade Unions and shop stewards from countries in East and West should form joint groups to study effects of rationalisation and the introduction of new technologies like micro-chips, problems of occupational health etc. - Independent scientists and non-governmental institutes should intensify/international cooperation to study burning ecological questions, define foci of most urgent action and to estimate long term social costs of a continued growth orientated economy. - All possibilities should be used for an exhange of scientists, artists, writers, folklore and theatre Long term goals The Europe we envisage consisting of peaceful non-aligned or neutral states would have to find appropriate forms of economic integration compatible with the political and societal status of its member states. In our view the positive achievements of a large common market ought to be extended as far as feasible. We do not see any insurmountable difficulty even for a permanently neutral state to join or associate with a common market organisation when blocks and military alliances have been dissolved and provided such a common market is not in a close economic alliance with one of the super powers.
====================
PXL_20250625_121554361.jpg
====================
THIRD PART -27III. Human rights and the self-determination of peoples Bloc logic means that bloc members surrender a large share of their sovereignty to the leading bloc power in times of acute international crisis. In fact it would be the super powers that decide on letting loose nuclear war. Even in peace times there is considerable interference of the leading powers into the affairs of their allies. NATO countries were subjected to strong outside pressure during debates on the deployment of American Eurostrategic weapons - pressure that to some extent disturbed and restricted the normal parliamentary decision process. Nevertheless most people living in the "West" do not perceive superpower interference as a major and permanent problem. Soviet interference, on the other hand, or the permanent threat of such interference is all pervading and ever present for those living in the "East". Seen in a world wide view every great power and many of the smaller ones violate basic human rights and the 80vereignty of other countries. Looking at Europe however the main focus of these problems lies in the Eastern half of our continent - which, by the way, includes several countries that by their political and cultural tradition belong to Central rather than to Eastern Europe. By stating this we do not want in any way to idealize the state of affairs in the Western half of Europe and the produces social system of so-called free market economy that dozens of millions of unemployed. We know very well that -28the "rule of the people" stipulated in the constitutions of Western parliamentary democracies is in fact restricted in many ways by economic, burocratic and technocratic forces. Conditions prevailing today in many countries of the West breed frustration, a deep feeling of uncertainity about the future and intense social tensions. Yet in our can only be view the way out of this crisis more democracy. crisis We are convinced that the basic idea of "people's rule" is something worth to be defended - and that by defending it peoples might be able to imbue it with new life and with more economic justice. And whilst many observers in the West note a widespread dissatisfaction with parliamentary democracy as it works today, it should be pointed out that the large majority of those living in the socalled socialist societies would consider it as a great advance if they could enjoy at least the albeit limited amount of freedom and individual rights enjoyed as a matter of course by people living in the "West". Cases of dissidents" being unjustly persecuted, imprisoned or detained in psychiatric institutions are, in our view, only symptoms of a much more basic problem: Actually the nations living in the Eastern half of Europe - considerably more than a hundred million people - are denied the right of self-determination. Though most of them live in formally independent states they are not masters in their own house. Such a situation is not only a major infringement on human dignity and on all the noble traditions of citicens' rights that are an inalienable part of European political culture. The fact that the large majority of those living
PXL_20250625_121554361.jpg
====================
THIRD PART -27III. Human rights and the self-determination of peoples Bloc logic means that bloc members surrender a large share of their sovereignty to the leading bloc power in times of acute international crisis. In fact it would be the super powers that decide on letting loose nuclear war. Even in peace times there is considerable interference of the leading powers into the affairs of their allies. NATO countries were subjected to strong outside pressure during debates on the deployment of American Eurostrategic weapons - pressure that to some extent disturbed and restricted the normal parliamentary decision process. Nevertheless most people living in the "West" do not perceive superpower interference as a major and permanent problem. Soviet interference, on the other hand, or the permanent threat of such interference is all pervading and ever present for those living in the "East". Seen in a world wide view every great power and many of the smaller ones violate basic human rights and the 80vereignty of other countries. Looking at Europe however the main focus of these problems lies in the Eastern half of our continent - which, by the way, includes several countries that by their political and cultural tradition belong to Central rather than to Eastern Europe. By stating this we do not want in any way to idealize the state of affairs in the Western half of Europe and the produces social system of so-called free market economy that dozens of millions of unemployed. We know very well that -28the "rule of the people" stipulated in the constitutions of Western parliamentary democracies is in fact restricted in many ways by economic, burocratic and technocratic forces. Conditions prevailing today in many countries of the West breed frustration, a deep feeling of uncertainity about the future and intense social tensions. Yet in our can only be view the way out of this crisis more democracy. crisis We are convinced that the basic idea of "people's rule" is something worth to be defended - and that by defending it peoples might be able to imbue it with new life and with more economic justice. And whilst many observers in the West note a widespread dissatisfaction with parliamentary democracy as it works today, it should be pointed out that the large majority of those living in the socalled socialist societies would consider it as a great advance if they could enjoy at least the albeit limited amount of freedom and individual rights enjoyed as a matter of course by people living in the "West". Cases of dissidents" being unjustly persecuted, imprisoned or detained in psychiatric institutions are, in our view, only symptoms of a much more basic problem: Actually the nations living in the Eastern half of Europe - considerably more than a hundred million people - are denied the right of self-determination. Though most of them live in formally independent states they are not masters in their own house. Such a situation is not only a major infringement on human dignity and on all the noble traditions of citicens' rights that are an inalienable part of European political culture. The fact that the large majority of those living
====================
PXL_20250625_121602364.jpg
====================
-29in the Eastern part of Europe are discontented with the general framework of conditions of life imposed onto them is a continual source of tension. Sometimes it leads to flagrant crises endangering the process of detente and providing new munition to the protagonists of Cold War on both sides. While we note a new kind of flexibility in Soviet foreign policy which we hope will contribute to the promotion of detente we would like to emphasize that a similar flexibility is required too in matters concerning the internal conditions of the Soviet bloc if peace and security are to rest on a solid base. Groups in the West that take up these problems are therefore not only performing an act of solidarity with people that bitterly need it%3B they are acting also in enlightened selfinterest for the situation in Eastern Europe might one day explode and endanger our whole continent. A comparison of the situation in different countries of the Soviet block shows considerable differences in how their social problems are handled. Thus there can be no doubt that in spite of permanent Soviet interference governments of countries allied with the USSR have a certain margin of independent decision and thus a certain responsibility for the state of affairs in their own countries. Insight into necessities on the part of those in power and pressure from below and from world public opinion might thus effect at least a mitigation of some of the most pressing probleme, opening up simultaneously the way for more basic reforms. Without claiming completeness we think that the following problems need most urgent attention. -30Central elements of a program for human rights adressed to movements and governments Freedom of travel Though in the Helsinki final document all signatories pledged themselves to grant free traveling a large ma jostill rity of people living in the Eastern half of Europe/have great difficulty or no chance at all to travel abroad. Official practice in some "Eastern" countries to grant passports and or withhold/exit visa at will and without giving reasons is felt as one of the most pressing and unnecessary chicanes by a very large number of people. In our view the proposition that lack of hard currency is the main reason for these travel restrictions cannot be accepted. Actually even people invited by relatives, friends or institutions in Western countries often cannot / get travel permission. Moreover the present practice gives a one-sided competitive advantage to the Eastern countries. All of them have considerable revenues in hard currency from Western tourism, and it would only be fair to earmark at least a substantial part of this for reciprocal travel to the West. to Freedom /travel abroad not only dissipates moods of claustrophobia, it also would foster personal contacts across frontiers thus contributing to remove prejudices and promote detente; many illusions about the "West" that are very widespread in the Eastern half of Europe would give way to a more realistic picture. To our knowledge the more liberal handling of this and other - issues in Hungary did not create difficulties
PXL_20250625_121602364.jpg
====================
-29in the Eastern part of Europe are discontented with the general framework of conditions of life imposed onto them is a continual source of tension. Sometimes it leads to flagrant crises endangering the process of detente and providing new munition to the protagonists of Cold War on both sides. While we note a new kind of flexibility in Soviet foreign policy which we hope will contribute to the promotion of detente we would like to emphasize that a similar flexibility is required too in matters concerning the internal conditions of the Soviet bloc if peace and security are to rest on a solid base. Groups in the West that take up these problems are therefore not only performing an act of solidarity with people that bitterly need it%3B they are acting also in enlightened selfinterest for the situation in Eastern Europe might one day explode and endanger our whole continent. A comparison of the situation in different countries of the Soviet block shows considerable differences in how their social problems are handled. Thus there can be no doubt that in spite of permanent Soviet interference governments of countries allied with the USSR have a certain margin of independent decision and thus a certain responsibility for the state of affairs in their own countries. Insight into necessities on the part of those in power and pressure from below and from world public opinion might thus effect at least a mitigation of some of the most pressing probleme, opening up simultaneously the way for more basic reforms. Without claiming completeness we think that the following problems need most urgent attention. -30Central elements of a program for human rights adressed to movements and governments Freedom of travel Though in the Helsinki final document all signatories pledged themselves to grant free traveling a large ma jostill rity of people living in the Eastern half of Europe/have great difficulty or no chance at all to travel abroad. Official practice in some "Eastern" countries to grant passports and or withhold/exit visa at will and without giving reasons is felt as one of the most pressing and unnecessary chicanes by a very large number of people. In our view the proposition that lack of hard currency is the main reason for these travel restrictions cannot be accepted. Actually even people invited by relatives, friends or institutions in Western countries often cannot / get travel permission. Moreover the present practice gives a one-sided competitive advantage to the Eastern countries. All of them have considerable revenues in hard currency from Western tourism, and it would only be fair to earmark at least a substantial part of this for reciprocal travel to the West. to Freedom /travel abroad not only dissipates moods of claustrophobia, it also would foster personal contacts across frontiers thus contributing to remove prejudices and promote detente; many illusions about the "West" that are very widespread in the Eastern half of Europe would give way to a more realistic picture. To our knowledge the more liberal handling of this and other - issues in Hungary did not create difficulties
====================
PXL_20250625_121607864.jpg
====================
-31but rather removed tensions. Moreover it is at least one of the reasons why many Hungarians who left their country after 1956 returned home, We therefore urge all Helsinki countries to implement what they promised in 1975 and give to all of their citicens the opportunity of free traveling. Reciprocal exchange of pupils, students, and all sorts of institutions should given the maximum possible support. be The need to apply for entrance visas should be abolished throughout Europe. Right to emigrate Though mentioned in the Helsinki dacument this right is non-existent for most people in the Warsaw Pact states. We not only would like to specially emphasize that this is is) a question of certain groups like Soviet Jews or German speaking Transsylvanians. Yet in fact even members of such groups who are allowed to emigrate in small quotas are often subject to severe discrimination and have to pay huge ransom for emigration under the pretext of refunding expenses for schooling etc. We appeal to all governments concerned to abloish such inhuman practices of treating citicens, as it were, as their property. -32is not always respected in the "West" and it is hardly existent in the "East". We therefore demand that in all Helsinki countries -NO Nobody should be imprisoned, subjected to rein pression or be hampered/or even excluded from his professional career nor forced to emigrate because of his political, ethical or religious convictions%;B the barbaric practice of "kin liability", in particular the exclusion of children of persons "in disgrace" from higher schools and qualified profession, should be abolished; censorship should be abolished and there should be an end to the indignified practice that many eminent writers and scholars in the Eastern half of Europe can publish their works only abroad or in "samizdat". private lectures, discussions groups, "people's universities", as well as unofficial exhibitions of artists or private cultural events should not be surpressed by the authorities. Freedom of thought This is one of the pillars of the Helsinki Accords because, as the signatories stressed, it is an integral part of human dignity. In European political tradition freedom of thought includes the right not only to have but to express in public views that are different from or even critical of those of the authorities. Actually this right Freedom of information Most people in the Eastern half of Europe cannot be prevented from listening to Western wireless and with satellite programs most will be able to receive Western television. All the more it is hard to see why the same people should not be allowed to buy Western books, journals and newspapers. Moreover in this field too Eastern practices create inequality in trade competition, since there is practically no restriction on the export and dissemination of printed matter from the East in Western states.
PXL_20250625_121607864.jpg
====================
-31but rather removed tensions. Moreover it is at least one of the reasons why many Hungarians who left their country after 1956 returned home, We therefore urge all Helsinki countries to implement what they promised in 1975 and give to all of their citicens the opportunity of free traveling. Reciprocal exchange of pupils, students, and all sorts of institutions should given the maximum possible support. be The need to apply for entrance visas should be abolished throughout Europe. Right to emigrate Though mentioned in the Helsinki dacument this right is non-existent for most people in the Warsaw Pact states. We not only would like to specially emphasize that this is is) a question of certain groups like Soviet Jews or German speaking Transsylvanians. Yet in fact even members of such groups who are allowed to emigrate in small quotas are often subject to severe discrimination and have to pay huge ransom for emigration under the pretext of refunding expenses for schooling etc. We appeal to all governments concerned to abloish such inhuman practices of treating citicens, as it were, as their property. -32is not always respected in the "West" and it is hardly existent in the "East". We therefore demand that in all Helsinki countries -NO Nobody should be imprisoned, subjected to rein pression or be hampered/or even excluded from his professional career nor forced to emigrate because of his political, ethical or religious convictions%;B the barbaric practice of "kin liability", in particular the exclusion of children of persons "in disgrace" from higher schools and qualified profession, should be abolished; censorship should be abolished and there should be an end to the indignified practice that many eminent writers and scholars in the Eastern half of Europe can publish their works only abroad or in "samizdat". private lectures, discussions groups, "people's universities", as well as unofficial exhibitions of artists or private cultural events should not be surpressed by the authorities. Freedom of thought This is one of the pillars of the Helsinki Accords because, as the signatories stressed, it is an integral part of human dignity. In European political tradition freedom of thought includes the right not only to have but to express in public views that are different from or even critical of those of the authorities. Actually this right Freedom of information Most people in the Eastern half of Europe cannot be prevented from listening to Western wireless and with satellite programs most will be able to receive Western television. All the more it is hard to see why the same people should not be allowed to buy Western books, journals and newspapers. Moreover in this field too Eastern practices create inequality in trade competition, since there is practically no restriction on the export and dissemination of printed matter from the East in Western states.
====================
PXL_20250625_121618135.jpg
====================
-33-34We demand free export and import of all printed matter in all Helsinki countries, an end to the practice of jamming foreign bradcast and television programms and freedom of movement and adequate facilities for journalists in their own countries and abroad. Freedom of assembly and organization These basic human rights are guaranteed in the constitutions of all Helsinki states (exept Turkey?) and usually respected in Parliamentary democracies. In the countries of the Soviet bloc, however, they are as a rule reserved for activities approved by the authorities. Attempts to imbue existing organisations and institutions with real democratic life, as was tried in the "Prague Spring" of 1968, or to create independent trade unions and other organizations like in Poland in the Solidarnosc period werein the long run not tolerated by the conservative forces of "real socialism who enforced "normalization" in some way or other. As a consequence existing social problems and conflicts are not brought up and solved but swept under the carpet. This in turn causes widespread frustration and discontent and a state of chronic disease in society. We are convinced that in the long run a modern society, be it in the East or in the West, cannot function smoothely unless all its members are respected as fully esponsible mature citi cens (mündige Bürger) not requiring constant tutelage by the authorities. We therefore demand that the basic human right of free assembly and organization be respected everywhere. T Freedom of conscience Free practice of religion is guaranteed in the constitution of all (?) Helsinki states. Actually people making use of this right are severely discriminated in some countries (especially Czechoslovakia) and churches in these contries have considerable difficulties to teach religion to children to train new priests and to get permission to appoint priests and bishops to vacant seats. In other countries one religion has in fact or even by law a privileged position to the detriment of others. While we reject all acts of religious oppression either b states or by other churches we also oppose attempts by churches to enforce their moral norms concerning matters like divorce of familiy planning onto people who hold differnt views. We demand freedom of conscience for everybody. Conscientious objectors Young men refusing military service because of their religious or ethical convictions are treated as criminals and imprisoned in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland Roumania, Spain (?), Switzerland, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. In the GDR only a special form of military service without weapons (Bausoldaten) is possible. In many other countries conscientious objectors are discriminated in various ways. In our view criminalization of such young men is both inhumane and futile and should be abolished in all Helsinki countries. We further suggest that C.0.s should be given the opportunity to do a kind of civil service related to their
PXL_20250625_121618135.jpg
====================
-33-34We demand free export and import of all printed matter in all Helsinki countries, an end to the practice of jamming foreign bradcast and television programms and freedom of movement and adequate facilities for journalists in their own countries and abroad. Freedom of assembly and organization These basic human rights are guaranteed in the constitutions of all Helsinki states (exept Turkey?) and usually respected in Parliamentary democracies. In the countries of the Soviet bloc, however, they are as a rule reserved for activities approved by the authorities. Attempts to imbue existing organisations and institutions with real democratic life, as was tried in the "Prague Spring" of 1968, or to create independent trade unions and other organizations like in Poland in the Solidarnosc period werein the long run not tolerated by the conservative forces of "real socialism who enforced "normalization" in some way or other. As a consequence existing social problems and conflicts are not brought up and solved but swept under the carpet. This in turn causes widespread frustration and discontent and a state of chronic disease in society. We are convinced that in the long run a modern society, be it in the East or in the West, cannot function smoothely unless all its members are respected as fully esponsible mature citi cens (mündige Bürger) not requiring constant tutelage by the authorities. We therefore demand that the basic human right of free assembly and organization be respected everywhere. T Freedom of conscience Free practice of religion is guaranteed in the constitution of all (?) Helsinki states. Actually people making use of this right are severely discriminated in some countries (especially Czechoslovakia) and churches in these contries have considerable difficulties to teach religion to children to train new priests and to get permission to appoint priests and bishops to vacant seats. In other countries one religion has in fact or even by law a privileged position to the detriment of others. While we reject all acts of religious oppression either b states or by other churches we also oppose attempts by churches to enforce their moral norms concerning matters like divorce of familiy planning onto people who hold differnt views. We demand freedom of conscience for everybody. Conscientious objectors Young men refusing military service because of their religious or ethical convictions are treated as criminals and imprisoned in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, Poland Roumania, Spain (?), Switzerland, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. In the GDR only a special form of military service without weapons (Bausoldaten) is possible. In many other countries conscientious objectors are discriminated in various ways. In our view criminalization of such young men is both inhumane and futile and should be abolished in all Helsinki countries. We further suggest that C.0.s should be given the opportunity to do a kind of civil service related to their
====================
PXL_20250625_121623332.jpg
====================
-35ideals; that there should be exchange programs for C.O.s between different Helsinki countries; and that service in development aid in the Third World should be recognized as an alternative to military service in all Helsinki) Minority rights states. Minority problems do exist in many parts of Europe, both East and West. If not solved in time they tend to become a source of grave and longlasting violence and may even endanger peace. We endorse the position of the Helsinki document that frontiers in Europe should not be altered except by mutual agreement. Even if they were established by acts of injustice in the past old injustices should not be remedied by creating new ones. In our view viable solutions can only be achieved if aggressive nationalistic mentality and any tendency for an "apartheid" policy is actively combatted on all sides. A democratic solution must guarantee to the minority the right to preserve its identity, in particular its language, including schooling in the mother tongue, and its culture. Minorities should be adequately bepresented in public offices, courts, police, civil service etc. Members of minorities should not be in any way discriminated in their occupational career. While rejecting "apartheid" as well as any pressure to assimilate, we think that any individual ought to have the right of free decision on assimilation, intermarriage etc. without being subjected to pressure or discrimination from any side. Terrorism -36Violence, in our view, is not a suitable means to solve any problem. We therefore support the condemnation of terrorism in the final document of the Madrid CSCE conference but would like to emphasize that terroristic acts often are an illegitimate means to draw attention to quite legitimate grievances. Without serious attempts to remove such grievances any attempt to combat terrorism will thus achieve only limited success. We think that the main emphasis in dealing with terrorists should not be on intransigence or on showing a "hard stance" at the expense of innocent hostages, but rather on minimizing bloodshed as far as possible. In our view all prisoners of conscience, even terrorists, should not be subjected to physical or psychic torture. At the very least they should not be treated worse than ordithey are nary criminals - as indeed now in many countries East and West. Suggestions for activities on non-governmental level Solidarity Acts of solidarity with victims of repression are of utmost impotance both as moral support and as material help, since many of these people and their families live in dire circumstances. We therefore appeal to everybody to support as much as possible activities of Amnesty International, solidarity comitees for specific countries, Helsinki Watch groups and other organisations trying to help.
PXL_20250625_121623332.jpg
====================
-35ideals; that there should be exchange programs for C.O.s between different Helsinki countries; and that service in development aid in the Third World should be recognized as an alternative to military service in all Helsinki) Minority rights states. Minority problems do exist in many parts of Europe, both East and West. If not solved in time they tend to become a source of grave and longlasting violence and may even endanger peace. We endorse the position of the Helsinki document that frontiers in Europe should not be altered except by mutual agreement. Even if they were established by acts of injustice in the past old injustices should not be remedied by creating new ones. In our view viable solutions can only be achieved if aggressive nationalistic mentality and any tendency for an "apartheid" policy is actively combatted on all sides. A democratic solution must guarantee to the minority the right to preserve its identity, in particular its language, including schooling in the mother tongue, and its culture. Minorities should be adequately bepresented in public offices, courts, police, civil service etc. Members of minorities should not be in any way discriminated in their occupational career. While rejecting "apartheid" as well as any pressure to assimilate, we think that any individual ought to have the right of free decision on assimilation, intermarriage etc. without being subjected to pressure or discrimination from any side. Terrorism -36Violence, in our view, is not a suitable means to solve any problem. We therefore support the condemnation of terrorism in the final document of the Madrid CSCE conference but would like to emphasize that terroristic acts often are an illegitimate means to draw attention to quite legitimate grievances. Without serious attempts to remove such grievances any attempt to combat terrorism will thus achieve only limited success. We think that the main emphasis in dealing with terrorists should not be on intransigence or on showing a "hard stance" at the expense of innocent hostages, but rather on minimizing bloodshed as far as possible. In our view all prisoners of conscience, even terrorists, should not be subjected to physical or psychic torture. At the very least they should not be treated worse than ordithey are nary criminals - as indeed now in many countries East and West. Suggestions for activities on non-governmental level Solidarity Acts of solidarity with victims of repression are of utmost impotance both as moral support and as material help, since many of these people and their families live in dire circumstances. We therefore appeal to everybody to support as much as possible activities of Amnesty International, solidarity comitees for specific countries, Helsinki Watch groups and other organisations trying to help.
====================
PXL_20250625_121631187.jpg
====================
-37-38People dedicated to the work of peace and the defence of human rights all over the world should know that they can expect our active support and solidarity whenever they are subjected to repressive acts. Visiting People in the West wanting to promote peace and mutual understanding should travel to Eastern countries as much as possible not just as sightseeing tourists but trying to establish personal contacts and to exchange views. Invitations Individuals, groups, organisations and institutions in the West should whenever possible invite individuals or groups from Eastern countries. They should insist in such cases that those who were invited do come and not somebody else. Exchange travel Individuals, groups and institutions should try to arrange as much as possible for all sorts of exchange visits, both on an organized or an informal reciprocal "barter" basis like "We invite your child to spend two weeks holiday or her with us this year and will come up for his/expenses in our country, and you will do the same next year with our child." Pen pals Many young people are interested in a regular correspondence with a pen pal in another country, especially people in the East with people in the West. We think that groups in the west should support and provide a framework for the organisation of such contacts. Twinning Churches, schools, universities, trade union groups, vocational organisations etc. should try to establish contacts with similar groups in the other half of Europe, visit them and invite them for visits etc. This should help to establish a broad range of personal contacts not restricted to top people only. twinning The natural/partners for Western peace groups are in our view the independent peace and cititcen's groups and movements in the Eastern countries. This should not exclude contacts with official Eastern peace councils - but not one at the expense of the other. Long term perspectives In the long run we think that in the process of withdrawal of foreign troops, dissolution of military blocs and the establishment of a Europe of peaceful states with low military potential (as envisaged in the introduction and in part I) all countries should be free to decide for themselves on all matters of their internal political and social structure without foreign interference. Evidently if such a process is to take place without major social upheavals it needs thorough preparation not only on the and military security plane of foreign policy/but also in the internal political conditions of all these societies. We are sure that by such a prodess of peaceful transformations most of the problems dealt with in this chapter could be solved or at the very least considerably mitigated.
PXL_20250625_121631187.jpg
====================
-37-38People dedicated to the work of peace and the defence of human rights all over the world should know that they can expect our active support and solidarity whenever they are subjected to repressive acts. Visiting People in the West wanting to promote peace and mutual understanding should travel to Eastern countries as much as possible not just as sightseeing tourists but trying to establish personal contacts and to exchange views. Invitations Individuals, groups, organisations and institutions in the West should whenever possible invite individuals or groups from Eastern countries. They should insist in such cases that those who were invited do come and not somebody else. Exchange travel Individuals, groups and institutions should try to arrange as much as possible for all sorts of exchange visits, both on an organized or an informal reciprocal "barter" basis like "We invite your child to spend two weeks holiday or her with us this year and will come up for his/expenses in our country, and you will do the same next year with our child." Pen pals Many young people are interested in a regular correspondence with a pen pal in another country, especially people in the East with people in the West. We think that groups in the west should support and provide a framework for the organisation of such contacts. Twinning Churches, schools, universities, trade union groups, vocational organisations etc. should try to establish contacts with similar groups in the other half of Europe, visit them and invite them for visits etc. This should help to establish a broad range of personal contacts not restricted to top people only. twinning The natural/partners for Western peace groups are in our view the independent peace and cititcen's groups and movements in the Eastern countries. This should not exclude contacts with official Eastern peace councils - but not one at the expense of the other. Long term perspectives In the long run we think that in the process of withdrawal of foreign troops, dissolution of military blocs and the establishment of a Europe of peaceful states with low military potential (as envisaged in the introduction and in part I) all countries should be free to decide for themselves on all matters of their internal political and social structure without foreign interference. Evidently if such a process is to take place without major social upheavals it needs thorough preparation not only on the and military security plane of foreign policy/but also in the internal political conditions of all these societies. We are sure that by such a prodess of peaceful transformations most of the problems dealt with in this chapter could be solved or at the very least considerably mitigated.
====================
PXL_20250625_121638664.jpg
====================
D -39Concluding remarks This memorandum emerged as a result of numerous long and intense discussions with many participants from both East and West. In our view its publication should not be the end of this very valuable exchange of opinions but rather the beginning of a new round of discussions .. We do not claim that we are the only ones who hold the key to the solution of the many grave problems mentioned in this paper. But we do think that they urgently need a solution and that you too ought to ponder about them, to discuss them with your friends and to raise them in your institutions. If you found any of the suggestions in this memorandum useful for your work we should be glad. If you have any comments or additional proposals you are welcome. Please let us know. -40This draft has been prepared by a group consisting of: Georg Breuer (Independent Peace Initiative, Vienna), Dieter Esche (Initiative Ost-West-Dialog, Berlin), Sylvie Mantrand (CODENE, Paris), Jan Minkiewicz (Bureau of Solidarnosc, Amsterdam), Christian Semler (Initiative Ost-West-Dialog, Berlin). Wim Bartels and Wolfgang Müller (both IKV, Netherlands) participated in the discussion as observers.
PXL_20250625_121638664.jpg
====================
D -39Concluding remarks This memorandum emerged as a result of numerous long and intense discussions with many participants from both East and West. In our view its publication should not be the end of this very valuable exchange of opinions but rather the beginning of a new round of discussions .. We do not claim that we are the only ones who hold the key to the solution of the many grave problems mentioned in this paper. But we do think that they urgently need a solution and that you too ought to ponder about them, to discuss them with your friends and to raise them in your institutions. If you found any of the suggestions in this memorandum useful for your work we should be glad. If you have any comments or additional proposals you are welcome. Please let us know. -40This draft has been prepared by a group consisting of: Georg Breuer (Independent Peace Initiative, Vienna), Dieter Esche (Initiative Ost-West-Dialog, Berlin), Sylvie Mantrand (CODENE, Paris), Jan Minkiewicz (Bureau of Solidarnosc, Amsterdam), Christian Semler (Initiative Ost-West-Dialog, Berlin). Wim Bartels and Wolfgang Müller (both IKV, Netherlands) participated in the discussion as observers.