Treaty between the USSR and the Italian Republic4.1437 Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation
between the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics and the Italian Republic
Alliance Members:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Italy
Signed On:November 18, 1990, in the city of Rome. In force until
December 25, 1991.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts,November 22, 1990.
SUMMARY
This treaty was signed in Italy one day prior to the historic non-
aggression pact between NATO and Warsaw Pact members (see
Alliance no. 4.1438). The text of the treaty stipulates that both coun-
tries will “co-ordinate necessary initiatives aimed at relieving tension if
a situation arises which in the opinion of one of the sides threatens
peace and undermines international stability.” This entente is one of
many agreements signed in the waning days of the Soviet Union that
tried to foster a new international atmosphere of cooperation with
Western countries.
The alliance was short-lived. On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev
resigned as Soviet president and transferred control of the Soviet
nuclear arsenal to the new president, Boris Yeltsin, as the United States
recognized six independent republics: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Although the friendly relationship
between Russia and Italy remained, the alliance was considered obso-
lete with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Alliance Text
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Italian Republic;
recognising that the changes which are taking place in the
world provide mankind with a unique chance to build a
peaceful international order based on the pre-eminence of
law; relying on age-old traditions of friendship, spiritual
closeness and the reciprocal cultural enrichment of their peo-
ples as well as on the fact that their basic interests do not con-
tradict each other;
aspiring to assert their pioneering role in many undertakings
to overcome the split of Europe;
convinced of the need to build relations between states on
the common human values of democracy, liberty, pluralism,
solidarity and respect for human rights;
confirming their adherence to the provisions of the Helsinki
Final Act and subsequent CSCE documents and confident that
the results of the all-European summit conference in Paris will
strengthen the irreversible nature of the process of peaceful
development in Europe; desiring to strengthen relations
between the EC and the USSR;
showing resolve to consolidate the prestige of the UN;
convinced that the biggest problems of the modern world
can be resolved on the basis of the new political philosophy and
new systems exclusively within the framework of broad-based
international co-operation;
deriving inspiration from the ideals and principles laid down
in the joint Soviet-Italian Declaration of 30th November 1989,
have decided to add a new quality to their bilateral relations and
have agreed on the following
Article 1. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the
Italian Republic will develop their relations as friendly states on
the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equal rights,
mutual respect and solidarity.
Article 2. Convinced that in accordance with the UN Charter
and with the stipulation envisaged in Article 51 of the Charter
war, whether nuclear or conventional, as well as the threat of
force or the use of force must be ruled out as a means of resolv-
ing international disputes, the sides pledge to resolve their dis-
putes exclusively by peaceful means.
The USSR and Italy will increase their efforts to enhance the
role of the UN. They will also make efforts to ensure complete
respect by all member states for the principles of the UN Char-
ter and to ensure that the UN, using the necessary means, can
fully carry out the functions of the supreme guarantor of peace
throughout the world.
Article 3. The sides will continue their efforts to overcome
splits and disagreements in order to turn Europe into a conti-
nent of peace where relations of trust, openness and solidarity
between states are dominant and where permanent security and
co-operation machinery is created.
In this context the sides intend to protect the CSCE process,
developing and enriching it, and also to act in such a way as to
guarantee stability on the continent of Europe in all its dimen-
sions.
Article 4. The USSR and Italy firmly intend primarily
through the CSCE to promote the strengthening of democracy,
the law-governed state, friendly relations between all states,
security, protection of human rights and also the development
of economic, scientific and technical, cultural and ecological co-
operation.
The Soviet Union and Italy consider that the elaboration of
principles and rules based on the example of the CSCE can pro-
mote stability, security and the well-being of other regions, par-
ticularly the Mediterranean and Near East.
Article 5. The USSR and Italy are convinced that along with
the emergence of the new Europe an increasing stability which
envisages a radical reduction of the arms levels, including a
reduction of nuclear weapons, must be ensured. They will facil-
itate the attainment of corresponding agreements on the basis
of the principle of strict verification.
The sides will co-operate to ensure that the security is based
not on confrontation but on interaction by means of strength-
ening trust and security measures on a pan-European scale, cre-
ating security structures and revising military doctrines aiming
at attaching a strictly defensive character to them.
Article 6. The USSR and Italy will inform each other and
immediately contact each other in order to co- ordinate neces-
sary initiatives aimed at relieving tension if a situation arises
which in the opinion of one of the sides threatens peace and
undermines international stability. If one of the sides considers
that a situation arises which affects its highest security interests,