A.A. Gromyko and security policy: contours of Helsinki

The article continues the study of the role of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR A.A. Gromyko in the formation, development and maintenance of security policy, its principles and structural elements. The relevance of the article is determined by the importance of strategy and strategic thinking in modern foreign policy and diplomacy, their influence on interstate cooperation, the evolution and manageability of international relations. The subject of the article is to study the participation of A.A. Gromyko in preparation for the conference on security and cooperation in Europe in 1972-1973. This circumstance determined the chronological framework of the study. They are limited to 1972 and 1973. In some cases, the author uses materials from 1974 and 1975. The article consists of three subsections. The first subsection deals with discussions about the timing of the conference and the creation of organizational structures necessary to ensure its successful functioning. The second subsection analyzes the «red lines» of A.A. Gromyko - the conditions that must be met for the participation of the USSR in the conference. The third subsection characterizes the approach of A.A. Gromyko, aimed at overcoming potential conflicts and preventing the expanded interpretation of security advocated by Western countries. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the analysis of the approach of A.A. Gromyko about the relationship between the concepts of «peaceful existence», «independent elements of detente», «sovereignty» and their inclusion in the substance of European security. The author confirmed his earlier hypothesis that A.A. Gromyko of plan «B» in case the conference on security and cooperation is postponed. The sources of the article are published documents of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the use of which can be explained methodologically. It was important for the author to conduct the analysis on the basis of the foreign partners' assessment of the statements made by the Soviet Foreign Minister during official negotiations (outer reflection). The author's reasoning should be understood in the context of his earlier article in the journal.

Gromyko, security policy, foreign policy continuum, political strategy, political tactics, diplomatic strategy, diplomatic tacticsl, conference on security and cooperation