§ Mr. Parryasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with President Reagan.
§ The Prime MinisterPresident Reagan and General-Secretary Gorbachev met in Geneva on 19–21 November. A copy of the joint statement issued by the two leaders on 21 November has been placed in the Library of the House. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I attended a briefing by President Reagan for the Alliance in Brussels also on 21 November. The President received the full support of the Alliance for the achievements of the meeting.
The Geneva meeting was a success. It has helped to establish a measure of confidence and greater understanding between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union, given an impetus to the arms control negotiations in Geneva, and made clear that existing arms control agreements will continue to be honoured on a reciprocal basis.
392WThere were a number of specific results: the institution of regular summit meetings, the commitment to make progress on a wide range of arms control issues including chemical weapons, the institution of regular exchanges on regional issues, steps to improve contacts and exchanges and other agreed measures set out in the joint statement.
As President Reagan himself said, the results of the summit will be judged over the months and years ahead by deeds not words. Fundamental differences remain both on matters of ideology, on some of the most difficult arms control issues, on regional problems and on human rights. But there is now a clear framework and timetable for discussion of these differences. The outcome of the summit justifies greater hope for their resolution and for peace and stability.