Innsbruck, [Beginning of July], 1974
The Wish for More Freedom
At the European Security Conference in Geneva and Helsinki, there is agreement in principle that the status quo of the European borders has to be secured by treaty. This means in real terms that the distribution of power, as it has emerged from the Second World War, is taken notice of. Standing on coexistence, the East wants to have its sphere of influence safeguarded. On the other side, the West is pushing for more freedom. Accordingly, the following items should be taken into consideration until the treaty is signed:
By a less restricted movement of people and improved information across borders, the de facto partition of Europe could be eased. If this agreement should be achieved, it would be a modest, but nonetheless remarkable success. It is expected that the European Security Conference can still be concluded until the end of this year, but at the latest in 1975.
Innsbruck, July 14, 1974
The European Backbone
The German-French reconciliation as well as the cooperation between Paris and Bonn form the backbone of the European Community and hence the developing new Europe.
Innsbruck, July 20, 1974
The Cyprus Crisis
The overthrow of Archbishop Makarios as President of the independent Republic of Cyprus as well as the attempt by the national guard to unite Cyprus with Greece set off not only a serious crisis on this small island in the Eastern Mediterranean but also caused a precarious situation for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. As a result of the Turkish invasion for the protection of the Turkish Cypriot minority, which occurred today in the morning hours, war between Greece and Turkey threatens to break out. Since both countries are members of NATO, the North Atlantic Alliance is being put to a delicate test. What should NATO do if war broke out between two of its member states? Although in this case the Soviet Union tacitly supports Turkey, the consent between the superpowers will prevent that this regional conflict will escalate.
Addendum
[Cyprus remained for years involved in a bloody civil war. A cease-fire was several times mediated by the United Nations. It came to the partition of the island into a Turkish Cypriot northern part (ca. one third of the country) and a Greek Cypriot southern part with the capital Nikosia. In the ‘70s Cyprus had a population of about 650,000, of which a quarter belonged to the Turkish Cypriot ethnic group. Since the partition, a UNO peacekeeping contingent has been standing guard along the demarcation line to avoid incursions.]