NSDD 288 My Objectives at the Summit

SECREI INCLASSIFIED THE WHITE HOUSE SYSTEM II WASHINGTON 91220 NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION DIRECTIVE NUMBER 288 November 10, 1987 MY OBJECTIVES AT THE SUMMIT x General Secretary Gorbachev has accepted my invitation to attend a Washington Summit, beginning December 7, that should witness the signing of an INF agreement and a thorough review of all elements on the U.S.-Soviet agenda. The signing of the INF treaty represents a triumph and vindication for the policy that this Administration has followed toward the Soviet Union from the start. It demonstrates that realism, strength, and unity with our allies are the prerequisites for effective negotiation with Moscow. We must keep this principle in mind as we address all issues related to the Summit. We must also bear in mind that the nature of the Soviet regime, while it may be changing slowly, sets limits to what we can achieve with Moscow by negotiation and diplomacy. Objectives I have a carefully calibrated mix of objectives for the Summit. All are important. They include: -- the completion and signing of an INF agreement in a form and manner that maximizes Alliance solidarity and the prospects for ratification; -- making real progress toward a START agreement and moving toward a treaty on Defense and Space that furthers the promise the Strategic Defense Initiative holds for a safer world through deterrence based increasingly on defenses; -- taking diplomatic and public affairs actions which at a minimum assure that the Summit is seen as an event addressing thoroughly our whole agenda. Prior to and at the Summit, we should create political pressure for the Soviets to take positive steps on our human rights, regional, and bilateral concerns. For example: On human rights, we should make the point that while there has been some progress on the Soviet side, it has been marked by tokenism; it has not been institutionalized nor made irreversible, and is therefore far from adequate. We should seek Soviet adherence to all human rights conventions signed by the U.S.S. R. , and vast improvement in emigration, repatriation, and resolving divided family cases, If Declassified/Released on 11/21/92 Declassify on: OADR UNCLASSIFIED under provisions of E.O. 12356 by S. Tilley, National Security Council SECRET