BREZHNEV ADDRESSES ARMY, NAVY OFFICERS IN KREMLIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001604050035-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: October 27, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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III. 27Oct82 USSR NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
K
BREZHNEV ADDRESSES ARMY, NAVY OFFICERS IN KREMLIN
LD271202 Moscow TASS in English 1152 GMT 27 Oct 82
["Kremlin Meeting of Military Leaders" -- TASS headline; quotation marks as received]
[Text] Moscow October 27 TASS -- A conference of the command personnel of the Soviet
Army and Navy was held in the Kremlin today. It was attended by commanders, members
.of military councils -- chiefs of political departments and chiefs of staff of military
.districts, groups of troops and fleets as well as leading officials of the central
apparatus of the Defense Ministry.
Participants in the conference greeted with prolonged stormy applause Leonid Brezhnev,
Yuriy Andropov, Andrey Gromyko, Nikolay Tikhonov, Dmitriy Ustinov, Konstantin Chernenko.
The conference was addressed by L.I. Brezhnev, general secretary of the CPSU Central
Committee, president of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, who was received
with stormy applause.
Leonid Brezhnev said:
"It is with great satisfaction that I accepted the proposal of Dmitriy Ustinov for meeting
the command personnel of the armed forces. Such meetings are always useful, especially
now when the situation in the world is very complicated.
"Almost two years have passed after the 26th congress of our party. This period was rich
in major events inside the country and in the international arena. Experience has confirmed
the correctness of the appraisals and conclusions of the congress and the farsightedness
of the decisions taken by it. Of course, there also appear new questions which must be
solved without delay."
"This also refers to foreign policy. The Soviet Union is the biggest socialist state
at which all the world is looking. This gives our foreign policy special meaning and
significance. The 26th Congress of the CPSU drew up an-extensive programme of struggle
for peace. This programme agrees with the spirit of Lenin's behests and has gained
general recognition.
"We are living, comrades, in a no-simple time. The international situation makes it
imperative for us to redouble or treble our efforts in the struggle for preserving peace,
for reducing the danger of nuclear war which is hanging over mankind. In this struggle
we should broaden interaction with all those who hold dear peace on earth. And we should
tirelessly strengthen the defences of our country and be vigilant.
"The Central Committee of the party has pointed out more than once lately that the inter-
national situation continues growing more complicated. The ruling circles of the United
States of America have launched a political, ideological and economic offensive on
socialism and have raised the intensity of their military preparations to an unprece-
dented level.
"Practical preparations are under way in Europe for the deployment of American medium-
range nuclear means in NATO countries.
"Israel's aggression in Lebanon should also be regarded as a consequence of the political
course taken by the Americans. It is clear that this is, in the final count, the doing
of the USA. The situation in a number of regions of Africa, Asia and Central America
is very complicated. The reason is the same: attempts to impose American diktat on
them."
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III. 27 Oct 82 V 2 USSR NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
"The masses of people on all continents angrily protest against Washington's aggressive
policy which is threatening to push the world into the flames of a nuclear war. The adven-
turism, rudeness and undisguised egoism of this policy arouse growing indignation in many
countries, including those allied with the USA..
"In this situation it is very important, of course, how our relations with other countries
will shape up. Of no small importance are relations with China. We sincerely want a
normalization of relations with that country and are doing everything in our power toward
this end. In Beijing, they also say now that normalisation is desirable. No radical changes
in the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China are to be seen so far, but the new
things which appear must not be ignored by us."
"Two lines now clash in world politics.
"The line of the USA and those who follow it -- a line for deepening tension and aggravating
the situation to a maximum. They are dreaming of isolating politically and weakening
economically the USSR and its friends. They have unfolded an unprecedented arms race,
especially a nuclear arms race, and are trying to attain military superiority. Having
stepped on this road, imperialism is irresponsibly playing with the destinies of the peoples.
"Our line is a line for detente and strengthening international security. We shall not
abandon it and shall step up our efforts and retain the initiative in international affairs."
"As you understand, it is not only words that are needed in politics. A policy is only
effective when it relies on the real economic and military strength of a state, on the un-
limited support of the people, on strong friendship and fighting union with the allies and
friends. We have all this. And we are working tirelessly in this direction.
"Now on internal tasks. Our homeland is approaching the 60th anniversary of the USSR in
the flower of its strength.
"The economic and social progress made by the country is apparent. Our industry is working
at a good rhythm. It can produce everything necessary by relying almost entirely on our
own resources of raw and other materials.
"Of course, not everything goes smoothly, there are difficulties and shortcomings. Metal,
fuel and transport continue to be the bottlenecks. Our economic executives are still to
do.a great deal to remove the shortcomings. The situation in capital construction is
improving slowly although the measures taken lately are already producing results."
"A great deal of work is being done in agriculture in order to eliminate in the' future the
need for grain purchases abroad and fully meet the population's growing demand. We attach
exceptional importance to the Food Programme adopted at the May plenum of the CPSU Central
Committee.
"Comrades, Dmitriy Ustinov constantly reports to me about the state of our armed forces.
As to me, I also constantly handle matters of consolidating the army and navy in the
performance of my official duty, so to say, and know about the state of affairs.
"You work hard. The year's results confirm that there are undeniable successes in the
combat readiness and training of the armed forces. Big operational, technical-and organi"
sational measures were carried out, adding to the might of the army and navy. I note with
satisfaction the positive results of the large-scale exercises conducted in recent years,
which helped draw important conclusions for the future.
"Our people love their armed forces and are confident of their constant readiness to defend
their socialist motherland. They value courage and selflessness in fulfilling their
soldierly duty.
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III. 27 Oct 82 V 3 USSR NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
"Every one sees that the Soviet Armed Forces are a powerful factor of peace and security,
a reliable means of curbing aggressive forces. And the people spare nothing to keep them
always up to the mark. We equip the armed forces with most advanced weapons and military
hardware. The party Central Committee adopts measures to meet all your needs. And the
armed forces should always be worthy of this concern."
"The time now is such that the level of combat readiness of the army and navy should be
even higher. It is necessary to perfect combat readiness in a constant and extremely
responsible way, proceeding from the growing requirements, then no fortuity will take us
unawares.
"It is necessary to be able to operate with due account for the latest achievements of
science and art of war. It is important to strive for positive results in military training.
Special attention in this should be given to commanding of the troops.
"It is of exceptional importance to wield weapons in a masterly way, to be able to use in
full their combat possibilities.
"The Soviet Army should be up to the mark in all respects: equipment, structure and methods
of training. It should correspond to the requirements of the present time. And you,
comrades, are responsible for that.
"Further consolidation of the material base of the armed forces should be mentioned
separately. Competition in military technology has sharply intensified, often acquiring
a fundamentally new character. Lag in this competition is inadmissible.
"We expect that our scientists, designers, engineers and technicians will do everything
possible to resolve successfully all tasks connected with this."
Naturally, party and political work to educate the personnel should be intensified. High
morale has always been the most powerful weapon of our army. This holds true today even
to a greater extent.
Care for the soldier and officer, for the conditions of the troops has always been and
remains in the focus of attention of our party and the Soviet state. And you should regard
this task in the future as one of the principal ones.
The party Central Committee is sure, comrades, that the tasks facing our armed forces, will
be successfully resolved. This is guaranteed by the hardened, highly conscientious, and
selflessly devoted to motherland commanding and political cadres of the army and navy, high
skill and rich experience of the members of the collegium of the USSR Defence Ministry,
precise work of the entire ministry, whose helm is in the reliable hands of the loyal son
of the Leninist party, member of the Political Bureau of the CPSU Central Committee, our
comrade-in-arms marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitriy Ustinov.
Comrades, great work, new exercises and marches are ahead of all of you. We are convinced
that they will become another considerable step in the training of the armed forces. I
express confidence on behalf of the party Central Committee and on my personal behalf that
you will successfully cope with the tasks advanced before you. In this you are guaranteed
constant support and assistance of the Central Committee.
Leonid Brezhnev's speech was heard with immense attention by all those present and was
repeatedly punctated with stormy applause.
Member of the Political Bureau of the CPSU Central Committee, defense minister, Marshal
of the Soviet Union Dmitriy Ustinov made a report on the state of combat and political
training in the army and navy and tasks of its further perfection.
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