§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Warsaw pact countries.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI visited East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic from 8 to 10 April, Czechoslovakia from 10 to 11 April and Poland from 11 to 13 April.
In addition to my official talks with the Foreign Ministers of the three countries, I called on the Presidents and Prime Ministers and other members of the leaderships.
126WI and members of my delegation also made a point in each country of meeting a range of non-governmental figures, including representatives of the Church.
On this tour, as during my visits to Romania and Bulgaria in February, I had a number of aims: to broaden the dialogue with Eastern Europe; to try to improve East-West relations; to demonstrate our concern for human rights and contacts between peoples; and to develop bilateral relations and promote trade.
The central question in my discussions was the East-West relationship. There were inevitable differences of view, but the vital importance of the Geneva talks reaching a successful conclusion was common ground. I reminded my hosts of the defensive nature of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance; and left them in no doubt of the sincerity of our search for security at a lower level of armaments through negotiation and genuinely balanced and verifiable agreements.
I was also able to make plain the sincerity and strength of British concern about human rights throughout Europe. I pointed out that the credibility of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe process was undermined if elementary freedoms were not respected.
I had full and detailed discussions about bilateral relations. Trade has an important role to play.
I am grateful to my hosts for the hospitality shown in all these countries; and for the friendly and businesslike atmosphere of the talks. The visit was useful and worth while. It broadened my own knowledge and understanding. I believe that it also led to a better perception of Western positions on the other side.