Prime Minister
As you know, we had talks of about two hours, Mr. Shevardnadze and I. I was very pleased he was able to call into London after his visit to Brussels to see both Foreign Ministers and also NATO. He gave me a very full account of his meeting with the European Foreign Ministers and also of his meeting with Mr. Wörner at NATO.
He has discussed bilateral matters with our Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd. He gave the Foreign Secretary and me an account of perestroika and its progress in the Soviet Union. They are tackling their problems with a will there and naturally both the Foreign Secretary and I said once again how very much we were behind and supporting Mr. Gorbachev in everything he was doing.
And we also made the point that the events which are now happening in Eastern Europe would not have happened without Mr. Gorbachev 's courage and vision. [end p1]
We have discussed all of these matters and come to the conclusion that the important thing is that we retain the stability and security of the NATO/Warsaw Pact structure, of the Helsinki Final Act which was signed by thirty-four countries, and it is important that the changes in Eastern Europe take place against that certain background.
The most important thing of all is that we get democracy into each of those Eastern European countries, accompanied by the economic reform and it is important that that takes place against the stable, secure background which we have now come to know.
I did take the opportunity to say that it is just five years since I saw Mr. Gorbachev and since he came to power and I think the change both in the Soviet Union and the atmosphere there and the freedom, the increasing freedom and human rights and the change through Eastern Europe and in Western/Eastern relations has been quite remarkable.
Our task now is to keep the peace, a very constructive peace, to increase prosperity among our nations and among our peoples and to work for a new friendship between West and East and we are now at the beginning of that process.
We also of course expressed our sympathy on the death of Academician Sakharov which is sad for us all. We agreed to keep in very close touch with the events which are happening daily and of course I look forward to going to the Soviet Union in June to Kiev. It was a very good and a very happy visit. [end p2]
Mr. Shevardnadze
It would be difficult to add anything to what the Prime Minister has said. You have outlined the content, the substance of our very important and very necessary talk.
I would like to note the great importance of the on-going dialogue between the Soviet Union and Great Britain and in particular the importance of very frequent and informal discussions and contacts between Mrs. Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Today we have discussed a very broad range of issues, about the situation in the world and various regions of the world, including some regions where there are still conflicts. And I have to say that on a number of very important world issues, both global issues and regional issues, we have a very good measure of agreement.
I attach great importance to the fact that we have decided to continue our contacts on a more regular and a more systematic basis. On-going consultations between leading officials of the Soviet Union and Great Britain are necessary given the current situation in the world and in Europe.
We also discussed our bilateral relations and we have noted with satisfaction that they have been developing dynamically and well. I would like warmly to thank the Prime Minister for the attention which she has given us. We will be looking forward to her visit to the Soviet Union. [end p3]
Before your visit, Prime Minister, there will be the visit of the Foreign Secretary in April and during the Foreign Secretary's visit we will discuss in great detail all problems.
Prime Minister
And a Happy Christmas and a good New Year to all the people in the Soviet Union and especially to President and Mrs. Gorbachev.
Mr. Shevardnadze
Thank you and Happy Christmas and New Year.