cher Icutback on weapons in Europe.
The declaration said the present PECHISC situation makes it impossible to wait any longer. There is need for urgent, effective measures which COU CUSEDe ween members of the twc pacts and diminish tears of possible agression' The pact called for these measures to be taken as a step towards dismantlthe military alliances NATO and the Warsaw Pact Specifically the proposals are: • the Warsaw Pact and NATO to agreement to renounce the use ot militarv torce and to preserve peaceful relations • a renewal of the pledge that the Soviet Union will not use nuclear weapons TITS call for all nuclear powers who have 10 08030008 similar steps.
WORK agreement in the shortest ban nuclear weapon tests • to agree on the probibition and liquidation of chemical weapons @ I0 work towards the prohibition neutron weapons and the basing of any types of weapons in outel space • to prohibit the use of radiological weapons In addition the seven nations in the pact весатес concern about the deployment of nucicar wcaDons Europe. Following his suggestion during Decem ber that the Soviet Union would cut the number of its SS20 missiles from 300 matching the Britain NATO dropped its plan to bring in Cruise and TriGeNE this year, leader Yuri Andropov declared: 'We view the Challenge THE temperature's rising for Reagan and Thatand their friends in the NATO military the Warsaw Pact two day conference at the beginning of January have put the spotlight on the responsibility of the West ,for the threat of nuclear war by showing the willingness of the Soviet Union to negotiate a situation soberly. We do 220E0000UTOU the military preperations of NATO.
Andropov put responsibility for the situation with NATO saying that the Warsaw Pact was ready to respond in kind to any NATO move but warning that: *The answer to the intention of the gressive imperialist circles to suppressing socialism THUS Ine further strengthening of our unity defence potential.' The BacI call for the removal of all nuclear WCaDOHS TEOH Europe, both those of a tactical and medium range. If this isn't possible would be useful radically lower the nuclear capabilities medium *ange in Eurone on the basis of equality equal security The new proposals will strengthen the hand of the anti-missiles moveEuropo Pre positioning o crise positioning of Cruise and Trident in '83 Already Margaret Thatcher has constructed a new team led by Michael Heseltine to take on Campaign for. Nuclear CND has openly welcom ed the Soviel proposals as an aid in its fight addition, Michael Foot leader of the Labour Party attacked Thatcher for her flippant and slapdash' rejection of the WarSa Wi Pact Foot said in a Channel 4 interview that "These should be rejected out hand. They Call diltr atmosphere in Europe.' This is absolutely true.
Public opinion in Europe is already opposed the possibility of nuclear war in the so-called 'European teatre Over three million peoDe demonstrated against the missiles during of 1982 Europe Polls consistently show public opposition. For exWest Germany: cent want the government DOSEDORe deployment of the missiles Britain: 58 per cent oppose Cruise and 56 cent oppose Trident In addition the decision in the Norwegian to funds to NATO decision to install Cruise missiles was only carried on a 77-76 vote.
And in the USA, eight agreferenda in the November 1982 elections voted "ves to a nuclear freeze.
The Soviet moves have clearly US president Ronald Reagan onto the detensive the 9 January Observer his weekly radio address was notable for its lack of anti-Soviet rhetoric and in its opinion reflects a 'growing mood in Washington that Andropov's OYCELLI C and should simply dismissed as propaganda'.
further was that Reagan's speech is a recognition that the West Canillo aiways pear to be talking.
HCW while East appears to be talking about peace.
The big problem now for Reagan is how to build up his 'peace' image while simultaneously preparing for war. The US strategy is on its need to conPECIE colonial tion. to disarm its own working Cdss austerity measures home in the name of a bigger enemy abroad.
The proposals from Andropov throw the responsibility for reduction firmly onto the of USA and allies the Europe. The next move is up to the anti-missiles movement to bulld on the Soviet proposals.
the 61 per per allocate out the Union's be apabout the revoluarms in NO nuclear Socialist Challenge FUND DRIVE 83
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alliance as the Soviet Union's bold new 'peace ing out ogets underway. The proposals com-
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