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This file contains mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR)
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1553196
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August 3, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito
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1553196
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document
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August 3, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger, Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito
description
This file contains mutual and Balanced Force Reductions (MBFR)
citationUrl
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Yugoslavia
Presidential trips
Soldiers
United States-Soviet relations
Helsinki Agreement, 1975
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1553196
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3
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1975-08-03
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8
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1975
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3
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1975-08-03
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8
year
1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation
Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
Josip Broz Tito, President of Yugoslavia
Milos Minic, Vice President of Federal Executive
Council and Minister for Foreign Affairs
President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
and Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
Amb. Lawrence H. Silberman, U.S. Ambassador
to Yugoslavia
DATE AND TIME:
Sunday, August 3, 1975
7:35 - 9:00 p.m.
PLACE:
Federal Executive Council Building
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Tito: I would like to say again how happy I am to exchange views with the
President and his associates and to welcome you here. I am only sorry
it is for such a short time. I hope there will be some opportunity for you
to visit Yugoslavia unofficially.
President Ford: I am most grateful for your personal welcome and for
the welcome of the Yugoslav people. My return to Belgrade brought back
many memories of twelve years ago when I had a chance to meet many
people in your government and establish a relationship. May I congratulate
you on your speech and presiding at Helsinki.
Tito: And may I say the same to you as well.
President Ford: I wish we could stay longer. Mrs. Ford and I would
like to return again and enjoy the beauties of Yugoslavia.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
GERALD
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
SECRET - XGDS (3)
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES
State
3/10/04
CLASSIFIED BY: HENRY A. KISSINGER
RV
in
NARA DATE 5/24/04
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
Tito: I would like to hear how you would like to proceed. We don't have
much time tonight. I think our bilateral relations are good. We dis-
cussed international relations in Helsinki. Maybe we could talk about
the future.
The President: I agree, Mr. President, that our bilateral relations are
excellent. Maybe we could expand on what we touched on earlier -- Greece
and Turkey and the Middle East. Those are areas where the threat of
conflict is great and the dangers that it could bring are very serious. Maybe
we could discuss these things.
Tito: The Middle East is the most troublesome point. I feel that there
is some deterioration and that the situation could get more and more
complicated. Since it is the most serious, I would suggest discussing
it tomorrow.
Perhaps we should discuss security in Europe and what we should
do to promote it. I think that after Helsinki the moral factor will become
important. I have heard that there has been, for example, some new
progress between Greece and Turkey in Vienna. I hear there was also
progress at SALT.
The President: Yes. We made some progress. Not as much as we
hoped, but I think sufficient to lay the ground work for an agreement
this year. The issues are very technical. While I had hoped for more
progress, we did make some and I am reasonably optimistic.
Tito: These talks were just in passing then.
The President: Yes, but we are hoping they will lead to something in
finality. We are also concerned about MBFR. Do you have any advice
for us in this crucial area? We are deadlocked.
Tito: I know very little about them other than the fact that they are
deadlocked. Perhap S Minic can give us something more.
Minic: I know little more about it. But Palme has made a proposal
that the two sides should reduce on each side.
We think reduction would be good also.
Tito: I think there is a connection between the reduction of arms and
Helsinki. Otherwise we haven't done much.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-3-
The President: I assure you that we will do our best. We have a
formula and we will attempt a breakthrough. We think the spirit of
Helsinki should push the negotiations forward.
Tito: Reduction of arms certainly falls within the Helsinki concept.
It is important not to let things stagnate.
Minic: Some progress should be made. Otherwise the spirit that we now
have would be dissipated.
The President: There was some implication that CSCE would be followed
by MBFR. Not an agreement to do so, only an implication.
Kissinger: So far each side has proposed disarming the other. But we
will put forth a serious proposal this fall and should make some progress.
The President: We have turned it off for this year but the Congress, if there
is no progress, will renew its efforts to make unilateral force cuts. I will
resist, but it could happen.
Tito: I couldn't believe the Congress would do such a thing.
The President: My Administration never will. But there are members
who would do SO. Thus far they are a minority.
Tito: In 1977, after your elections, there will be a summing up of the
Helsinki follow-on.
The President: I am looking forward to attending it as President.
Tito: All the international conferences held in Belgrade have been
successful. For example, the first non-aligned conference.
Kissinger: It is now bigger than the two blocs! It's the biggest bloc now.
Tito: It is not a bloc. [Laughter]. There have been some rocky days in
the non-aligned group, but we will get by. It is not good to be exclusive
groups. We will discuss it tomorrow. I would like you to understand
our position.
The President: I know you can imagine how much time I, and I assume
Brezhnev, have spent working to implement the Vladivostok accord. We
think that dividing the world into blocs is not the best way to deal with the
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-4-
problems. In the kind of world we live in today, there can't be the kind
of confrontation and military activity which took place during your time
and mine. I will dedicate myself to eliminating those sources of conflict
that could lead to military confrontation. Our orientation will be that way.
As I was saying earlier, I recall Dulles saying how important it
was to establish a good relationship with Yugoslavia. Over the years
that relationship has grown and expanded and been highly beneficial
to both sides and to the world. The American people as a result have
developed a great affection for the Yugoslav people. The American
people if I can say it in the right way -- sometimes don't understand
criticism of our actions. The feeling for Yugoslavia is very strong, and
under those circumstances criticism is easily misunderstood. So I would
hope we could each moderate our statements.
Tito: I quite agree. A criticism can be expressed with friendly words
or in a not friendly way.
Minic: Yugoslavia is entrusted with the preparation for the 1977 Conference
so we will need consultation with all the parties.
The President: We will cooperate completely.
Minic: In past times we have had close cooperation between the foreign
ministers and the ambassadors of our two countries.
Kissinger: I agree. We hope to continue to consult and we will consult
before the Special Session next month because we want to make a constructive
effort.
Tito: We also want to be constructive. We have had many contacts with the
heads of government in Helsinki and with others with whom we have disagree-
ments, and we agree we won't let the press lead our relations. But if there
are differences, we will meet and talk them out.
The President: I have a very close and personal relationship with
Secretary Kissinger. There are no differences between us. And the
Ambassador is my appointment. He has my full confidence, so we have
a good situation.
Tito: That is the best way -- only a few sources for passing information.
The President: At the top, information should come to me through the
Secretary. But Ambassador Silberman does have my complete confidence.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-5-
Kissinger: We attach great importance to the understanding between
Yugoslavia and the United States, given the standing of Yugoslavia in
the non-aligned world, and we will do our best to say in close contact.
Tito: Let's close until tomorrow.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
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DECLASSIFIED
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NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINE
NARA DATE
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