WEST GERMANY: WEST BERLIN: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER REAFFIRMS UNITED STATES' COMMITMENT TO DEFEND WEST BERLIN.

Record ID: 223084

  • Title: WEST GERMANY: WEST BERLIN: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER REAFFIRMS UNITED STATES' COMMITMENT TO DEFEND WEST BERLIN.
  • Date: 21st May 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV Plane taxiing 0.05 2. SV German official waiting 0.08 3. LV Dr & Mrs Kissinger down steps & greeted (2 shots) 0.27 4. GV EXT Berlin Town Hall 0.30 5. LV & SV INT Town Hall Kissinger makes speech 1.22 DR. HENRY KISSINGER: "Throughout the period of detente the United States and its Western allies have shared the conviction that the hope of wider security and co-operation in Europe has to be vindicated in Berlin above all. We agree that efforts to normalise relations in Central Europe had to begin with normalising West Berlin's existence in safety and dignity. We have pressed for reliable, practical improvements in conditions of access to Berlin and of life in this city. We have made a major effort to remove Berlin as an issue of East-West confrontation." Initials BJB/0110 BJB/0115 Visnews Production 5110/75 covers Dr. Kissinger's visit to Bonn today. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th June 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WEST BERLIN
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVACW5S83FPB9XYZ3IBUITUGX6KO
  • Story Text: The United States Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, on Wednesday (21 May) pledged continuing American commitment to West Berlin. He told the city parliament during a four hour visit that detente could only work if West Berlin flourished.

    "The security of West Berlin remains a vital interest of the United States. For us, much more is at stake here than the security of a city. To us you symbolise man's unquenchable yearning for freedom: you represent the capacity of democracy to summon the strength to defend its values," he said.

    Dr. Kissinger said there was no alternative to peace in the thermonuclear age. But the U.S. would never seek peace by abandoning principles or sacrificing friends.

    "Only if Berlin flourishes will detente flourish: only if you are secure will Europe be secure. This has been America's attitude for 30 years; this attitude has not changed.

    "Only behalf of President Ford and the American people I have come here today to reaffirm our historic relationship," said Kissinger.

    Dr. Kissinger came to West Germany en route to a meeting of the Central Treaty Organisation Foreign Ministers in Ankara specially to make his Berlin speech.

    Following U.S. setbacks is Southeast Asia he has been seeking to reassure U.S. allies of America's continuing commitment to their defence.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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