CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
20. Thirty five nations are taking part in the Conference on
Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE).
The West's aim at the
CSCE is to seek to ensure a more civilised relationship with the
Fast, built upon trust rather than suspicion, upon genuine actions
rather than equivocal words.
21.
After an initial meeting of Foreign Ministers in July 1973.
detailed discussions on the CSCE programme of work began in the
following September in Geneva and concluded on
The Third Stage will begin/has begun etc 7.
etc].
The Conference covers
a wide range of major issues, including commercial, economic and
technological co-operation; measures designed to increase contacts
among people and the freer flow of information and ideas; and
political and military security.
22. The search for improved military security rests primarily on
to
measures designed to increase confidence in Europe about the
military intentions of other participants. These discussions have
concentrated mainly on the prior notification on a voluntary basis
of major military manoeuvres and movements, and the exchange of
observers at manoeuvres.
23.
Agreement on the substantive issues being considered by the
Conference has been slow, because the majority of CSCE participants
have not been prepared to settle for mere declarations of intent
without verifiable substance. The Conference is therefore putting
professions about détente to the test in practical ways.
2lt. The Government is fully aware that a Conference of this kind
cannot solve all of Europe's problems of security and co-operation.
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CONFIDENTIAL