Agreement on Cooperation between the Stasi and the KGB, 6 December 1973

A g r e e m e n t

Of Cooperation

Between the Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic

and the Committee for State Security with the Council of Ministers

of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics

The Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic (MfS of the GDR) and the Committee for State Security with the Council of Ministers of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (KGB of the USSR) take note that their longtime cooperation occurs according to decisions made by the Central Committees of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). In recent years, this cooperation was substantially tightened and experienced overall development. It constitutes an important factor in order to solve the tasks of ensuring state security for the USSR, the GDR and the other states of the socialist community, as well as to stabilize and preserve peace on the European continent.

The agreement is based on the recognition that close cooperation and collaboration between the fraternally linked security services of USSR and GDR expands their capacities and increases the effectiveness of their measures to uncover and prevent hostile plans of the adversary. It also allows for an even more expedient application of existing forces and means in the fight against subversive activities by intelligence services and centers of ideological subversion from the imperialist states. Guided by the desire to further tighten and develop their cooperation, the MfS of the GDR and the KGB of the USSR have reached the following agreement, in accordance with obligations of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and the German Democratic Republic from the Warsaw Treaty of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance:

Article I

Both sides are committed to the mutual exchange of

1. political, military, economic, and scientific-technological intelligence information about the adversary, as well as samples of recent technology acquired by the security services from both states;

2. operative material and information about workings and methods of the adversary's intelligence and counterintelligence services and organizations of ideological subversion, as well as about their planned and executed subversive activities; and about the activities by Zionist centers and reactionary émigré as well as other organizations, which conduct hostile activity against the USSR, the GDR and the other states of the socialist community; and about the cadres and agents of these services, institutions, centers, and organizations, as well as about the operative situation in countries to be targeted by both MfS and KGB;

3. experiences about the fight against hostile activities by intelligence and counterintelligence services of the adversary, as well as against ideological subversion and subversive actions by anti-socialist, nationalist, Zionist, revisionist and other hostile elements exploited by the imperialist intelligence services;

4. information about machinations and provocations by hostile intelligence services against citizens from USSR and GDR; and about data and material from cases of investigation against uncovered spies who targeted the USSR and the GDR, or who had connections in their territories; as well as about suspicious contacts between citizens of USSR and GDR with officials and citizens from capitalist states;

5. about academic and sociological studies and textbook material in the field of operative activity to ensure the security of the state; as well as about samples of operative technology and related material developed separately or jointly by MfS and KGB, or acquired from the camp of the adversary, both according to the existing agreement on operative-technological cooperation;

6. information about most important instructions of mutual interest issued by the leadership of the MfS of the GDR and the KGB of the USSR to guide operations of their respective institutions.

Article II

Both sides will coordinate their efforts and mutually assist each other

• in applying intelligence measures to unofficially penetrate important objects of the adversary, in particular those of the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and NATO; and in operating against the Chinese splittists, as well as in gathering intelligence information and implementing active measures to unmask and thwart the adversary's aggressive intentions; it must be taken into account that the most urgent task of intelligence gathering consists in the timely uncovering of immediate preparations by the adversary to launch a military attack against the states of the socialist community and in identifying potential uses of new types of weapons by the adversary;

• in counterintelligence to penetrate intelligence services, the adversary's centers of ideological subversion, émigré and other hostile organizations; in unmasking, practicing upon and thwarting their subversive activities against both USSR and GDR, and in implementing special measures in the fight against the adversary's intelligence services;

• in securing economic objects through counterintelligence measures, as well as with regard to measures within the framework of socialist economic integration;

• in searching for individuals who committed crimes against the state, and in checking individuals who are suspected of pursuing hostile activities or who are people of interest in operative regards;

• in drafting and implementing measures for the protection of secrets concerning the political, military, economic and scientific-technological cooperation between USSR and GDR;

• in providing counterintelligence protection to international tourist travel;

• in implementing measures to prevent terrorist attacks and other hostile actions by the adversary against all means of transportation;

In the interest of a more effective deployment of forces and operative means, coordinated measures concerning the fields and objects mentioned above will be either performed by both sides jointly or independently, depending on expediency.

Article III

Both sides will cooperate and provide to each other mutual operative support and assistance

1. in the field of protecting the government;

2. in securing reliable operation of signal, telex and phone communication between both sides and, according to the respective government agreement and other working documents, in securing reliable operation of the secret government telex and phone network;

3. in the field of cryptology;

4. on issues of material and technological procurement.

Article IV

According to procedures stipulated by the treaty between the German Democratic Republic and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics on mutual assistance in civil, family, and criminal matters from 28 November 1957, both sides will provide mutual assistance in criminal matters, which are under the purview of investigation units from state security services.

Article V

Both sides will closely cooperate and coordinate their measures on matters of providing aid to national security services of friendly developing countries.

Article VI

In accordance with operative needs, both sides will exchange information and data from the archives and files of the MfS of the GDR and the KGB of the USSR.

Article VII

Both sides deem it necessary to tighten cooperation and activate their operations towards timely discovery and prevention of hostile plans and actions emanating from imperialist states via the territories of the FRG and West Berlin. This is based on the fact that these territories are being exploited for subversive activities against the USSR, the GDR and the other states of the socialist community.

In order to solve these tasks, both sides agreed that in the GDR, in Berlin as well as in the districts, a representation will be established by the Committee for State Security with the Council of Ministers of the Union of the Socialist Soviet Republics to the Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic (Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR). Its actual deployment and numerical strength will be decided according to operative needs.

Within the framework of good practice, and after respective agreement with the leadership of the MfS of the GDR, the Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR is permitted to recruit citizens of the GDR as secret collaborators, if it is requisite for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes in the fight against the adversary's services in the interest of state security of both USSR and GDR.

The MfS of the GDR will provide operative assistance to the workings of the Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR. It will take into account operative activities from the territory of the GDR and, if required, it will apply its abilities to secure the secrecy of GDR citizens recruited for the implementation of special measures.

Article VIII

In order to provide security for Soviet military forces, facilities and citizens based on GDR territory, the MfS of the GDR will provide necessary assistance to the Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR, as well as exchange operative information. It will conduct joint operative measures aimed at protecting military forces of the Soviet Army, as well as Soviet facilities, citizens and their family members from hostile actions by the adversary and its agents.

Both sides will cooperate to secure operations conducted by the Supreme Command of the Joint Forces of the Warsaw Treaty and will exploit existing operative opportunities in this regard.

Article IX

The Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR will have a special regiment to guard special transports and the guards on duty.

Article X

In order to solve tasks for providing counterintelligence security to citizens of the GDR based on USSR territory, as well as in order to implement respective concrete measures, both sides agreed that an Operative Group from the MfS of the GDR to be based in the USSR will be associated with the KGB of the USSR. Its actual deployment and numerical strength will be decided according to operative needs.

The KGB of the USSR will provide operative support and assistance to the Operative Group of the MfS for solving its tasks.

Article XI

The KGB of the USSR will bear costs for the support of employees of its Representation; the MfS of the GDR will bear costs for the support of the members of its Operative Group.

The MfS of the GDR will provide to members of the Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR offices, official vehicles, apartments, utility services and medical care.

The KGB of the USSR will provide identical services to the members of the Operative Group of MfS.

Costs for delegations sent in accordance with the coordinated plan of official meetings, or by invitation for purposes listed above, will be provided by the respective host.

Delegations of specialists to provide technical support will occur via authorities in charge and be based on conditions stipulated in existing bilateral agreements.

Article XII

In the interest of tightening and expanding friendly relations between employees from both sides, as well as to use effectively all opportunities for recreation and cure, both sides will coordinate on an annual basis the exchange of vacationers and patients.

Article XIII

In order to secure the fulfillment of mutual obligations from this agreement, the MfS of the GDR and the KGB of the USSR will:

1. draft joint general perspective plans for cooperation, as well as for individual areas;

2. maintain regular contacts, consult each other and conduct working meetings in accordance with perspective and annual plans; if necessary, they will also hold extraordinary meetings on various levels to discuss and coordinate directions of intelligence and counterintelligence work, as well as of concrete issues and measures.

Article XIV

General issues of cooperation between both sides are subject to review and confirmation by the Minister for State Security of the GDR and the Chairman of the Committee for State Security with the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The coordination of ongoing cooperation, the solution of operative issues and the maintenance of liaison between both sides will go through the Representation of the KGB with the MfS of the GDR.

Article XV

Both sides will implement necessary measures to maintain the secrecy of transferred information, documents, and data. Respective levels of classification will be issued by the side from where the transfer originates.

Secret material, information, samples of operative technology and related expertise must not be transferred to services of friendly states without permission by the side, which originally provided them.

Article XVI

In the context of developments concerning individual issues of cooperation, as contained in this agreement, both sides can sign additional protocols in order to make certain aspects of cooperation more concrete and precise.

Article XVII

This agreement comes into effect upon signatures from both sides.

Article XVIII

The agreement was drafted in two copies, each in German and Russian language respectively. Both texts have identical validity.

Minister for State Security of the

German Democratic Republic

[Signed] Mielke

6 December 1973

Chairman of the Committee for State Security with the

Council of Ministers of the USSR

[Signed] Andropov

6 December 1973