Treaty between the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the People’s Republic of BulgariaGeneral Jean-Bedel Bokassa
President of the Central African RepublicLieutenant General Joseph-Désiré Mobutu
President of the Democratic Republic of the CongoFrancois Tombalbaye
President of the Republic of Chad4.1387 Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation, and
Mutual Assistance between the Czechoslovak
Socialist Republic and the People’s Republic of
Bulgaria
Alliance Members:Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria
Signed On:April 26, 1968, in the city of Prague (Czech Republic). In
force until November 10, 1989.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:United Nations Treaty,no. 10344.
SUMMARY
Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria had excellent relations after World War II
because of mutual economic, cultural, and political interests. An
agreement of friendship signed in 1948 lasted for twenty years. One
week after the expiration of the earlier agreement, leaders from both
states signed this new treaty of friendship and mutual aid. They
pledged complete respect for borders and sovereignty in Europe,
mutual defense in case of attack, and the shared goal of advancing
international socialism.
The alliance lasted until 1989, when a series of communist govern-
ments in Eastern Europe fell during what was later called the “velvet
revolutions.” Communist power officially ended in Bulgaria in 1989,
when President Todor Zhivkov resigned amid internal pressure to lib-
eralize the economy.
Alliance Text
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the People’s Republic
of Bulgaria,
Guided by a constant desire to develop and strengthen the
traditional relations of friendship, co-operation and mutual
assistance between the two States, which are based on the prin-
ciples of socialist internationalism,
Firmly convinced that friendship, co-operation and mutual
assistance between the two States are in accord with the vital
interests of the Czechoslovak and Bulgarian peoples and serve
to strengthen the socialist community as a whole,
Noting that economic co-operation between the two States
promotes their development and furthers the international
socialist division of labour within the framework of the Council
for Mutual Economic Assistance,
Mindful of the experience of the Second World War, which
was unleashed by Nazi Germany, and firmly resolved to oppose
the forces of imperialism, which are threatening peace and
security in Europe,
Noting that, while the German Democratic Republic has
implemented the principles of the Potsdam Agreement, is pur-
suing a consistent policy of peace and is an important factor for
security in Europe, the forces of West German militarism and
revanchism are a threat to peace,
Endeavouring to safeguard peace and security in Europe on
the basis of the obligations arising out of the Warsaw Treaty of
Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance of 14 May
1955,
Expressing their determination to pursue a consistent policy
of peaceful co-existence among States with different social sys-
tems and to continue their efforts to strengthen peace and secu-
rity in Europe and throughout the world,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the
United Nations,
Noting that the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and
Mutual Assistance concluded between the Czechoslovak Repub-
lic and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria on 23 April 1948 has
played a favourable role in the development of friendly relations
between the two States,
Bearing in mind the achievements of Czechoslovak-Bulgar-
ian co-operation in past years and the changes which have taken
place in Europe and in the world,
Have decided to conclude this Treaty and have agreed as fol-
lows:
Article 1. The High Contracting Parties shall, in accordance
with the principles of socialist internationalism, continue to
strengthen the lasting and unshakable friendship between the
peoples of the two States, develop comprehensive co-operation
and render each other assistance on the basis of equality of
rights, mutual respect for State sovereignty and non-interven-
tion in each other’s domestic affairs.
Article 2. The High Contracting Parties shall in every way
develop and strengthen their economic, scientific and technical
ties on the basis of friendly co-operation and mutual benefit,
shall, in accordance with the principles on the international
socialist division of labour, carry out the co-ordination of
national economic plans as well as specialization and co-opera-
tion in production, and shall promote the further development
of co-operation within the framework of the Council for
Mutual Economic Assistance and thus ensure the development
of the national economies of the two States.
Article 3. The High Contracting Parties, desiring to help the
peoples of the two States to become better acquainted with each
other and to draw closer together, shall develop and strengthen
their relations in the fields of culture, art, science, education,
health, the press, radio, television, the cinema, physical educa-
tion and tourism and in other fields. They shall promote com-
prehensive co-operation between the social organizations of the
two States.
Article 4. The High Contracting Parties shall continue to
take measures aimed at strengthening the world socialist com-