229. Editorial Note
At the conclusion of President Nixon’s summit meeting with Soviet General Secretary Brezhnev in Moscow, the two sides issued a joint communiqué on July 3, 1974. Among the matters included in the joint communiqué were the European security conference and balanced force reductions:
“Both Sides welcome the major contribution which the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is making to this beneficial process. They consider that substantial progress has already been achieved at the Conference on many significant questions. They believe that this progress indicates that the present stage of the Conference will produce agreed documents of great international significance expressing the determination of the participating states to build their mutual relations on a solid jointly elaborated basis. The US and USSR will make every effort, in cooperation with the other participants, to find solutions acceptable to all for the remaining problems.
“Both Sides expressed their conviction that successful completion of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe would be an [Page 681] outstanding event in the interests of establishing a lasting peace. Proceeding from this assumption the USA and the USSR expressed themselves in favor of the final stage of the Conference taking place at an early date. Both Sides also proceed from the assumption that the results of the negotiations will permit the Conference to be concluded at the highest level, which would correspond to the historic significance of the Conference for the future of Europe and lend greater authority to the importance of the Conference’s decisions.”
The communiqué continues: “The USA and the USSR believe that, in order to strengthen stability and security in Europe, the relaxation of political tension on this continent should be accompanied by measures to reduce military tensions.
“They therefore attach great importance to the current negotiations on the mutual reduction of forces and armaments and associated measures in Central Europe, in which they are participating. The two Sides expressed the hope that these negotiations wil result in concrete decisions ensuring the undiminished security of any of the parties and preventing unilateral military advantages.” (Department of State Bulletin, July 29, 1974, page 188)