Ner socialist countries of

-Medium-rang
_ Of the Soviet Union.

As for the Soviet Union I repeat again
4nd again that we do not seek military
_ Superiority. We have never intended and
_“0 not intend to threaten any state or a
_ Soup of states. Our strategic doctrine is
| Purely defensive in nature. The asser-
| Hons that the Soviet Union is building up
MS military might on the European conti-
"Rent above its defence needs have no-
thing to do with reality. This is deliberate
deception of the public.
In Europe, just as in all other parts of
our world, we want peace, a lasting
_ Peace. This is the fundamental basis of

We are prepared to reduce the number of
mge nuclear

weapons in the west

our foreign policy, its backbone. We are
pursuing this policy consistently and un-
deviatingly. a ek

As chairman of the Defence Council of
the USSR I can state most definitely that
the number of medium-range carriers of
nuclear arms in the European part of the
Soviet Union has not increased by a
single missile, nor by a single plane dur-
ing the past 10 years. On the contrary,
the number of launchers of medium-
range missiles and also the yield of their
nuclear warheads have even been de-
creased somewhat. The number of

i EDITORIAL

Stop U.S.
missile threat!

The people of Canada, like the
Overwhelming majority in other
NATO countries, have nothing to
Sain and everything to lose from the
bigger and more deadly arms build-
up being thrust upon them.

For the populations of these coun-

tries, the dramatic initiative of the ~

Soviet Union in withdrawing troops
and equipment from the German
Democratic Republic, along with
Other disarmament proposals, are an
©pportunity to grasp a future free of
War, a future of sensible negotiation
for détente.
_ Instark contrast, the North Atlan-
Uc Treaty Organization generals and
Heir ravening political accomplices,
_ Ke. Zbigniew Brzezinski, scream
Out for/more billions of dollars to
mark western Europe with nu-
Clear missiles. (They already have
§ Ir claim in for a large chuck of the
4-billion fighter fleet the federal To-
“a are forcing Canadians to pay
Or.) The advocates of U.S. military
Supremacy are pressuring NATO
80Vvernments to tax, brainwash, and
nally legislate their populations into
Complaince.
~The truth is, détente, not U.S.
S$ Supremacy, is the way to a sec-
a World. But to the U.S. military-
aes Ustrial complex, allowing the
Orld’s people to live in peace en-
‘Bers its obscene profits and im-
penialist Power which depend upon
ar hysteria — or war itself.
NATO began this round of arms

multiplication by confronting the
United Nations Special Session on
Disarmament in June 1978, with an

-$80-billion boost in NATO’s budget.

To ‘‘justify”’ it scare stories planted
in Wester media harp on the.
“Soviet threat” myth.
Brezhnev’s Berlin initiatives put
the lie to that myth. But NATO pres-
ses on. Fronting for its military
brass, the ‘Atlantic Treaty Associa-
tion,’’ meeting frantically in
Washington in October, endorsed
NATO’s deployment in western
Europe of Pershing II and Cruise nu-
clear missiles, at risk of igniting an
ntrolled arms race. :
Leos the cry, U.S. Security
Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski de-
manded members ‘‘pay the price of
membership with U.S. nuclear
weapons on their territories.
Fortunately, many European
political leaders, heeding their citi-
zens, do not want such weapons.

_ This raises the question of Canada’s

vernment, fully committed with
carats and weapons, and with Cana-
dian Admiral Robert Falls as new
chairman of the military committee.

Not only should Defence Minister
MacKinnon proclaim publicly his
almost secret ‘‘stand’’ against nu-
clear weapons in Canada, but the
Clark government should oppose
decisively the deployment of nuclear
missiles in western Europe. Ottawa
should endorse Brezhnev s call for
competition in disarmament, not

arms. —

knowledge of the horror of war.

medium-range bombers, too, has di-
minished. As to the territory of other
states, the Soviet Union does not deploy

such weapons there at all. For a number >

of years already we have not increased
the number of our troops stationed in
Central Europe.

I will say more. We are prepared to
reduce the number of medium-range nu-
clear weapons deployed in the west of
the Soviet Union from their present
level, but only of course, in the event that
no additional medium-range nuclear
weapons are deployed in western
Europe.

I also want to solemnly confirm the
pledge that the Soviet Union will never
use nuclear arms against those states that
renounce the production and acquisition
of such arms and do not have them on
their territory.

Motivated by a sincere desire to over-

Brezhnev like millions of Soviet people, commitment to peace comes from first hand

come the impasse in efforts of many years
to achieve military détente in Europe, to
set an example of transition from ideas to
real deeds, we have decided, on agreement
with the leadership of the GDR and after
consultations with other member-states of
the Warsaw Treaty, to unilaterally reduce
the number of Soviet troops in Central
Europe. Up to 20,000 Soviet servicemen, a
thousand tanks and also a certain amount

_ of other military hardware will be with-
. drawn from the territory of the German
- Democratic Republic in the course of the

next 12 months.

We are convinced that this new con-
crete manifestation of the peaceful intent
and good will of the Soviet Union and its
allies will be approved by the peoples of
Europe and the whole world. We call on
the governments of NATO countries to
properly assess the initiatives of socialist
states and to follow our good example.

Other ideas directed at strengthening trust
between states, at lessening the danger of

war in Europe.

The Soviet Union supports further
expansion of confidence-building mea-
sures in Europe. In particular, we are
prepared to agree upon prior notification
of large-scale military exercises of
ground forces, to be made earlier than
provided for by the Helsinki Accords,
and not starting at the level of 25,000
men, as is the case now, but at a smaller
one, for instance, at the level of 20,000
men. We are also prepared on the basis
of reciprocity, not to conduct military
exercises involving more than 40-50
thousand men. :

It goes without saying that the pro-
posals by socialist countries concerning
notification about large-scale air and

‘ naval exercises, conducted near the ter-

ritorial waters of other participatory

countries of the European Conference,

remain in force.

We have yet another suggestion for the
West: let us give timely notification not
only of military:exercises but also of
troop movements numbering more than
20,000 men, anywhere in the area defined
by the Helsinki Accords.

Consideration also should be given to
other ideas directed at strengthening
trust. between states, at lessening the
danger of the outbreak of war in Europe.

We continue to regard a European politi-_

cal conference as the most suitable place
for discussing a broad complex of mea-
sures of military détente in Europe. It is
pressing and, it can be said, timely to
prepare and convene such a conference
now.

Lying ahead, as is known, are also
important talks on SALT-III. We are for
commencing them immediately after the

entry into force of the SALT-II Treaty. ~

Within the framework of these talks we

agree to discuss the possibilities of limit- _

ing not only inter-continental but also

other types of armaments, but with due
account, of course, for all related factors
and a strict observance of the principle of
the equal security of both sides.

The USSR, the GDR and other social-
ist countries of Europe are offering a
clear perspective — to genuinely ensure
to all European peoples a life in condi-

. tions of security and peace. Nowitis upto

the Western countries. Their answer will
show whether they are prepared to take
into consideration the will and vital in-
terests of the peoples of the world. We
hope that realism, statesmanship and,
finally, simple common sense will
prevail.

In this tempestuous world we, of the
socialist community, have firm ground
under our feet. We created it ourselves,
pressing for the steady progress of our

- economies, developing socialist democ-

racy, ensuring a constant growth of the
well-being of our peoples and strengthen-
ing by common efforts our defence. Our
ties are deep and diverse, and we are
learning to cooperate still better and
better.

Socialist internationalism is the politi-
cal and moral force that made it possible
to achieve many victories in the struggle
for peace and social progress.

It is wonderful that this major holiday
of the German Democratic Republic is
passing in an atmosphere of true inter-
nationalism.

Long live the German Democratic Re-
public, a reliable bastion of peace and
socialism in Europe!

May the inviolable friendship between
the Soviet Union and the German Demo-
cratic Republic, between our Marxist-
Leninist parties constantly strengthen!

Long live the glorious community of
socialist states!

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOVEMBER 2, 1979—Page 7