April 9, 1981
The President is very pleased by this strong expression of allied unity. It reflects the results of the
full and extensive consultations which the administration has had with our European allies since
January 20. The President, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and other senior administration
officials have met frequently with European leaders both here and abroad. This series of talks has
resulted in common understandings on the key problems facing the Alliance. The President is
gratified that that sense of understanding has been made dramatically clear by the statement of the
NATO Defense Ministers. He believes the statement has made a significant contribution to the
prospects for world peace.
Note: Deputy Press Secretary Speakes read the statement at the daily press briefing in the Briefing
Room at the White House.
On April 8 the NATO Defense Ministers, meeting as the Nuclear Planning Group in Bonn,
Federal Republic of Germany, issued a statement which supported the linking of Soviet
intervention in Poland with effective arms control negotiations.