Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

64. Letter From Romanian President Ceausescu to President Reagan¹

Bucharest, undated

His Excellency

Mr. Ronald Reagan

President of the United States of America

In the spirit of the relations of cooperation established between our countries and starting from the responsibility of the States signatories of the Helsinki Final Act,² for the peace and security of the European peoples, I address myself to You in matters related to the development of the present Madrid meeting³ wishing for its conclusion with positive results.

In the present international situation it is necessary to do everything possible for the resumption and continuation of the policy of peace, detente, respect for national independence and cooperation, to ensure a world of peace and equality to the present and the future generations, so that each people could develop freely, without any aggression or interference from outside, according to its own interests and aspirations.

I consider that the central issue of the Madrid meeting should be the adoption of agreements meant to open the way for the strengthening of confidence, stopping the arms race and the adoption of concrete measures towards military disengagement and disarmament. That is why the Madrid meeting should establish the convening of a Conference for confidence building measures and disarmament in Europe, as part of the process initiated by the Helsinki Conference, at a date allowing its thorough preparation. To this end, I believe that a reunion of experts should be decided upon in Madrid, with the participation of all the States signatories of the Final Act, ensuring the proper preparation of the Conference.

I consider that a basis of negotiations likely to lead to the achievement of a consensus within the framework of the Madrid meeting regarding the convening of the Conference on confidence building and disarmament is offered by the recent proposals submitted by Leonid Ilyitch Brezhnev, President of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, regarding the expansion of the zone of implementation of the confidence building measures on the whole European territory of the U.S.S.R. and the quantitative and qualitative freezing of the nuclear medium range missiles in Europe, simultaneously with starting immediate negotiations for their reduction.⁴

I would also consider that the Madrid meeting should adopt decisions leading to the development of the political, economic, technical, scientific, cultural and other relations among the participating States, it should agree upon measures for the assuring the democratic rights and liberties, the elimination of any manifestations of neo-nazism, chauvinism and irredentism, of terrorist actions, for the extension of human contacts aiming at better mutual knowledge and rapprochement among peoples.

In accordance with the provisions of the Final Act, the meeting must ensure the continuation of the process initiated by the Helsinki Conference and therefore it should establish the place and date of the next meeting. As You know, Romania offered to host this meeting in Bucharest, ensuring the proper conditions for good progress of its works. We express our confidence that this proposal will receive the support of your country’s Government and will reach the consensus of the participating States at the meeting.

As far as Romania is concerned, she is determined to make steady efforts to ensure the success of the Madrid meeting and will further cooperate with Your country, with the other participating States, to agree upon measures able to give a new impulse to the implementation of the Helsinki Final Act.

In conclusion, I convey my greetings to You and I express my desire to further develop the relations between our countries, their cooperation on the international arena, for a policy of peace, detente, national independence and security in Europe and throughout the world.

With the highest regards,

Nicolae Ceausescu
President of The Socialist Republic of Romania

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, Romania: President Ceausescu (8101689) (1). No classification marking. Printed from an unofficial translation. An unsigned version in the original Romanian is ibid.
2. The Helsinki Final Act dealt with a variety of issues that were divided into four “baskets” and was signed, by thirty five countries, at the conclusion of the OSCE. The first basket addressed political and military issues. The second basket included economic issues. The third basket focused on human rights. The fourth basket addressed implementation and follow-up meetings. For the text of the Helsinki Final Act, see the Department of State Bulletin, September 1, 1975, pp. 323–350.
3. Documentation regarding the U.S. policy toward the November 11, 1980–September 9, 1983 Madrid Conference on CSCE is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, vol. V, European Security, 1977–1983.
4. See Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. III, Soviet Union, January 1981–January 1983, Document 35.