East-West Relations

Part of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 December 1987.

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Photo of Mr Geoffrey Howe Mr Geoffrey Howe , East Surrey 12:00, 16 December 1987

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's support of the INF treaty. I am sure that the House will join me in expressing the hope that it will be speedily ratified and brought into force. I agree with what my hon. Friend said about the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The continued presence of over 100,000 Soviet troops there and the continued absence, as refugees, of 5 million Afghan people from their own country are severe obstacles to the proper development of full relations between East and West. Improvement in that respect is one of the several touchstones by which we shall judge the long-term attitude of the Soviet Union.