Question
What do you make of news that Romania's President has fallen from power?
Prime Minister
We have seen a tide of liberty sweep across Eastern Europe in the last twelve months, one nation after another—Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, East Germany, Czechoslovakia. And now it seems from reports we have been receiving in the last hour that the people of Romania have taken liberty for themselves.
That is wonderful news, very good news. I think we should just spare a thought for the very courageous people who just were not prepared to knuckle under against the blood-stained tyranny and who led the protest and paid for it with their lives. They will be real heroes in Romania's history and we should just think about them and their families this Christmas. [end p1]
And of course, assuming that all the news that we have heard is true, we welcome Romania to the family of free nations and hope that she will soon get a fully democratic system and once again play her full part in European matters.
Question
What action, if any, will Britain take now?
Prime Minister
We shall take, in conjunction with our European Community Ministers who are together today, they have another meeting today so they are all together, we shall offer Romania the same kind of help that we have offered to others. And I imagine that she will have to get an IMF Agreement. But of course we offer help to those who are coming out of tyranny into the light of democracy.
Question
What effect will this have on NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
Prime Minister
I cannot think that it will have any different effect from the others. We want those structures to stay in place because we are negotiating arms reductions through them and because you can best accommodate these great changes against a background of stability and security both for the nations of NATO and for the Soviet Union. [end p2]
And I think once again you know that none of this would have happened but for the vision of President Gorbachev. It is fascinating, it is one of the greatest stories of history.
It is only just over twelve months since I visited Poland—November 1988. Since then one communist government after another has been swept away. In some countries it has come from a movement of the people, in others it has been some of the communist leaders joining Mr. Gorbachev and saying: “This is no system for people, it brings them neither dignity nor prosperity.”
But it really is, just pause for a moment, it has been a fantastic year, one of the most historic years we shall ever live through in our decade. And we now have to harness it for keeping peace and building a more prosperous Europe.
Question
What do you think will happen in Romania now?
Prime Minister
News is coming in the whole time. I hope that they will follow other nations and that the new government that is taking over will arrange free elections and within a reasonable period. But it is very good news, isn't it? Marvellous for Christmas time, absolutely wonderful. [end p3]
Question
Will Mr. Gorbachev not be concerned with his empire crumbling now?
Prime Minister
Do not forget, Mr. Gorbachev led by saying: “The kind of thing we are experiencing in the Soviet Union gives people neither dignity nor liberty nor prosperity. It must change.” He made it quite clear that the countries of Eastern Europe could and would welcome a change from what they had had, from the communist system they have had, had to reform. And he was encouraging it the whole way.
Romania, as you know, broke free during Brezhnev 's time from the more rigid control of the Soviet Union, but she has had a very tyrannical regime.
It really is wonderful news for the people of Romania, wonderful news at Christmas, wonderful news for all of us.
Question
Do you expect any more bloodshed now?
Prime Minister
I most earnestly hope not.