Letter by the Chairman of the SPD, Brandt, to President of Romania, Ceausescu

December 19, 1979

The President of the Socialist Republic of Romania
Mr. Nicolae Ceausescu
Office of tohe President

Bucharest / Romania

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you very much for the friendly wishes and greetings that were conveyed to me. Congratulations on your reelection as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Romania.

I happily remember our interesting and fruitful conversations during my visit to your country in the summer of last year.

Since then, there have been developments in a row of issues that we discussed, regarding which I would on this occasion gladly like to make some comments.

I took note of your performance at your party’s party conference with great interest. I largely share your assessment of the situation in Europe, even if in some areas certain further advancements are both desirable and possible. Very much will depend upon the weapons developments of both alliances not leading to false responses.

I assume that you have been informed of the proceedings of the SPD party conference at the beginning of December. The German Social Democrats have developed new and further considerations in the areas of détente and cooperation, building on the official policy. Last week, the responsible committees of the Western alliance system took up the long-prepared decisions.

As you surely know, no new weapons will be stationed through these decisions for three or probably more than three years. It is therefore time for negotiations, and it is essential to use this time.

I would not like to fail to inform you that I recently elaborately answered a letter of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and at this juncture also reminded him of the responsibility of the USSR. The Soviet side’s offer, as this was formulated by Mr. Brezhnev in October during his visit to the GDR, received a positive response through us, as is known to you. Both the SPD and the federal government picked up on the suggestions and brought them into the dialogue that we maintain in our alliance system. Now the participants should do everything possible so that negotiations or soundings can begin as early as possible next year.

I consider that some only hold a conclusion as possible that, similarly to SALT, also arranges for an equilibrium of the so-called euro-strategic weapons, which for the West would mean something additional to the current situation. I say clearly that I would not be excited about such a result, but it would be at least a collective result that limited further arms buildup. A result that fundamentally called for no new intermediate-range missiles on the Western side would be better. But that requires the equivalent from the Warsaw Pact. As long as the Soviet production of the SS 20 and the bomber known here as “Backfire” proceeds unabated, the arguments of the American side, among others, will be difficult to rebut in the Western alliance.

These negotiations must be complemented, according to our assessment, through a first intermediate conclusion of the Vienna negotiations on troop limitations – on which we have brought in suggestions – and through the arrangement of additional confidence-building measures in the context of the CSCE process.

I share your concerns regarding an intensification of developments in parts of the Middle East. We observe developments in Iran with particular concern, which not only affect the USA but could also have far-reaching consequences for the West and the East.

I am thankful, dear Mr. President, for your exertions toward an easing in relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. Your exchange of ideas with the chairman of the PLO also certainly served this. In this context, I would like to let you know that in the discussions that the Austrian Chancellor and I had with Mr. Arafat, I received the impression that the Palestinian side is leaning towards a more realistic view. I have also informed my political friends in the ranks of the Socialist International about this. I hope that our Israeli colleagues are also able to perceive changes on these matters.

With regards to the exchange of ideas between our two parties, about which you reminded our observer at your party conference, I believe that we – and here I refer to our then deliberations in Bucharest – should and can find forms that make it possible to mutually inform each other and to debate topics of mutual interest suitably.

I sense the chance to convey to you in this way my best wishes for you personally and for your country and remain

With kind regards,

[signed]

Willy Brandt