Secretary-General's visit to Eastern Europe.

A common theme of Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar's discussions with the leaders of the four Eastern European countries which he visited in February was the importance of the role which the allies of the super-Powers could play in improving East-West relations.

He also briefed officials in each country on his recent African trip. He described his initiative on behalf of Africa and urged increased assistance to the continent, particularly in the technical field.

From 18 to 28 February, the Secretary-General visited Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. In three of those four countries, Mr. Perez de Cuellar received honorary degrees. In addresses at Jagiellonian University, Cracow and at Charles University, Prague, he concentrated on the role of the United Nations in the formulation and application of international law.

Further details of the Secretary-General's activities follow:

Poland (18-21 February): Mr. Perez de Cuellar called on the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and General of the Army, Wojciech Jaruzelski, who reviewed in detail the internal situation in Poland and noted the relationship between this and the international situation. The General spoke of the need to continue and accelerate efforts towards peace and described various Polish initiatives to that end.

The Secretary-General thanked General Jaruzelski for Poland's consistent support of the United Nations and in this context referred to the Polish contingent in the Golan Heights. He then reviewed the international situation and stressed the necessity for dialogue between the nuclear Powers. The Secretary-General also raised the subject of his concern with human rights matters and expressed his appreciation for the release from custody of United Nations staff member, Ms. Alicja Wesolowska, which he termed an important step. General Jaruzelski had informed the Secretary-General during their meeting of this action by the Council of State. (For details see p. 33.)

Czechoslovakia (21-23 February): At separate meetings in Prague with President Gustav Husak and Foreign Minister Bohuslav Chnoupek, the Secretary-General discussed the international situation, with particular emphasis on the Middle East and East-West relations. The Secretary-General spoke of the important role of countries such as Czechoslovakia in helping to bridge the gap between the nuclear Powers.

He pledged to continue his efforts to assist in the release of the Czechoslovak citizens held captive in Angola.

The Secretary-General also travelled to Karlovy Vary, where he toured the Moser Glassworks and Museum, and to Bratislava, where he met Prime Minister Peter Colotka and the Chairman of the Slovak National Council, Viliam Salgovic.

Hungary (23-25 February): The Secretary-General had separate meetings with Peter Varkonyi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and with Janos Kadar, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party. At both meetings there was a general discussion of the overall global situation and of the relations between Hungary and the United Nations.

The Secretary-General also met with the leadership of the Hungarian United Nations Association and affiliated Hungarian non-governmental organizations. The Secretary-General said that the problem of the United Nations did not lie in the Charter, but in the failure to respect and apply its principles. He called for the United Nations Associations and other non-governmental organizations to support the World Disarmament Campaign.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar also had meetings with Pal Losonczi, President of the Presidential Council and Gyorgy Lazar, Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria (25-28 February): The Secretary-General had meetings with Foreign Minister Petar Mladenov and with the President of the State Council of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Todor Zhivkov, as well as with other officials. The meetings focused on the world situation with an emphasis on East-West relations and threats to world peace. At his meeting with President Zhivkov, the Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for Bulgaria's consistent support of the United Nations, and the Bulgarian initiative on a nuclear-free zone in the Balkans was reviewed.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar called on the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Grisha Filipov.