1984 - Color, President Reagan: Address To The Nation & Other Countries on US-USSR Relations - Excerpts. 16Jan84 Pt. 1 of 2

NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk 1984 - Color, President Reagan: Address To The Nation & Other Countries on US-USSR Relations. 16Jan84 Pt. 1 of 2 SOF: “But this doesn't mean that we can't deal with each other. We don't refuse to talk when the Soviets call us imperialist aggressors & worse, or because they cling to the fantasy of a Communist triumph over democracy. The fact that neither of us likes the other system is no reason to refuse to talk. Living in this nuclear age makes it imperative that we do talk. Our commitment to dialog is firm & unshakeable, but we insist that our negotiations deal w/ real problems, not atmospherics. In our approach to negotiations, reducing the risk of war, & especially nuclear war, is priority number one. A nuclear conflict could well be mankind's last. And that is why I proposed over 2 years ago the zero option for intermediate-range missiles. Our aim was & continues to be to eliminate an entire class of nuclear arms. Indeed, I support a zero option for all nuclear arms. As I've said before, my dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons will be banished from the face of the Earth. Last month the Soviet Defense Minister stated that his country would do everything to avert the threat of war. Well, these are encouraging words, but now is the time to move from words to deed. The opportunity for progress in arms control exists. The Soviet leaders should take advantage of it. We have proposed a set of initiatives that would reduce substantially nuclear arsenals & reduce the risk of nuclear confrontation. 18:42:55 “The world regrets -- certainly we do -- that the Soviet Union broke off negotiations on intermediate-range nuclear forces & has not set a date for the resumption of the talks on strategic arms & on conventional forces in Europe. Our negotiators are ready to return to the negotiating table to work toward agreements in INF, START, & MBFR. We will negotiate in good faith. Whenever the Soviet Union is ready to do likewise, we'll meet them halfway. We seek to reduce nuclear arsenals & to reduce the chances for dangerous misunderstanding & miscalculations, so we have put forward proposals for what we call confidence-building measures. They cover a wide range of activities. In the Geneva negotiations, we proposed to exchange advance notification of missile tests & major military exercises. Following up on congressional suggestions, we also proposed a number of ways to improve direct channels of communications. Last week, we had productive discussions w/ the Soviets here in Washington on improving communications, including the hotline. 18:44:12 “Now these bilateral proposals will be broadened at the conference in Stockholm. We're working w/ our allies to develop practical, meaningful ways to reduce the uncertainty & potential for misinterpretation surrounding military activities & to diminish the risk of surprise attack. Arms control has long been the most visible area of U.S.-Soviet dialog. But a durable peace also requires ways for both of us to diffuse tensions & regional conflicts. 18:44:48 “Take the Middle East as an example. Everyone's interest would be served by stability in the region, & our efforts are directed toward that goal. The Soviets could help reduce tensions there instead of introducing sophisticated weapons into the area. This would certainly help us to deal more positively w/ other aspects of our relationship. Another major problem in our relationship w/ the Soviet Union is human rights. Soviet practices in this area, as much as any other issue, have created the mistrust & ill will that hangs over our relationship. Moral considerations alone compel us to express our deep concern over prisoners of conscience in the Soviet Union & over the virtual halt in the emigration of Jews, Armenians, & others who wish to join their families abroad. Cotinued.... Cold War; Diplomacy; Presidential Speeches; Peace NOTE: 08:41:11 - 08:48:15 if requested sold at per reel rate. Additional excerpts on H2042-06, -09, -10; H2043-04. NOTE: Credit must be given to Reagan Presidential Library.NOTE: FOR ORDERING See: www.footagefarm.co.uk or contact us at: Info@Footagefarm.co.uk