1987 Diplomacy & Treaties Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1987 Diplomacy & Treaties Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 25 Feb St. Kitts and Nevis Recognizes Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic: The Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis officially recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a diplomatic gesture in the ongoing Western Sahara territorial dispute.
- 27 Feb Diplomatic recognition of SADR: On February 27, 1987, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) received diplomatic recognition from several countries. This recognition was a significant step in the ongoing struggle for independence in Western Sahara. source: un.org
- 11 Apr Peres–Hussein London Agreement outlines framework for international peace conference: On April 11, 1987, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Jordanian King Hussein signed a secret agreement in London, aiming to establish an international peace conference based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. The conference sought to address the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Palestinian issue, with Palestinians represented by the Jordanian delegation. However, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir opposed the agreement, leading to its eventual failure. source: washingtonpost.com
- 13 Apr Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on Macau signed: On April 13, 1987, China and Portugal signed the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration, agreeing that China would resume sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999. The agreement established Macau as a Special Administrative Region, ensuring a high degree of autonomy under the 'one country, two systems' principle. source: wipo.int
- 14 Apr Turkey applies for full membership in the European Economic Community: On April 14, 1987, Turkey formally applied to join the European Economic Community (EEC), seeking full membership. This application marked a significant step in Turkey's long-standing interest in European integration, following its earlier association agreements with the EEC. The move was met with skepticism due to economic and political challenges, including tensions with Greece and Cyprus. source: washingtonpost.com
- 30 Apr Meech Lake Accord principles agreed: On April 30, 1987, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the ten provincial premiers reached a unanimous agreement at Meech Lake, Quebec, to amend Canada's Constitution. The accord aimed to bring Quebec into the constitutional fold by recognizing it as a distinct society, enhancing provincial powers over immigration and Supreme Court appointments, and providing a veto over future constitutional changes. The agreement also entailed annual First Ministers' Conferences on the economy and constitutional matters. source: heritage.nf.ca
- 26 May Sri Lankan military launches Vadamarachchi Operation against Tamil rebels: On May 26, 1987, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces initiated the Vadamarachchi Operation, a major military offensive aimed at recapturing the Vadamarachchi region in the Jaffna peninsula from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The operation involved nearly 4,000 troops, supported by air and naval forces, and achieved its primary objective. However, the second phase was aborted due to Indian intervention, leading to the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 01 Jul Single European Act enters into force: The Single European Act (SEA), signed on 17 and 28 February 1986 in Luxembourg and The Hague, respectively, entered into force on 1 July 1987. This treaty marked the first major revision of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, aiming to establish a single European market by 1992 and introducing significant institutional reforms within the European Community. source: britannica.com
- 13 Jul Soviet consular delegation visits Israel after 20 years: On July 13, 1987, a Soviet consular delegation arrived in Israel, marking the first official Soviet visit since diplomatic relations were severed in 1967. The delegation, led by Yevgeny Antipov, aimed to survey Soviet-owned properties and address issues concerning Soviet citizens residing in Israel. While the visit was portrayed as technical, it signaled a potential thaw in Israeli-Soviet relations and Moscow's interest in participating in Middle East peace efforts. source: washingtonpost.com
- 17 Jul France severs diplomatic ties with Iran over embassy standoff: On July 17, 1987, France severed diplomatic relations with Iran following an 18-day standoff over Iranian official Wahid Gordji, who was wanted for questioning in connection with terrorist bombings in Paris. The crisis began when French police surrounded the Iranian Embassy in Paris to question Gordji, leading to escalating tensions and the eventual diplomatic break. source: washingtonpost.com
- 29 Jul Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed to resolve ethnic conflict: The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was signed on July 29, 1987, between India and Sri Lanka to address the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The agreement aimed to establish peace and autonomy for the Tamil population in the northern and eastern regions of the country. It also involved the deployment of Indian peacekeeping forces to maintain order during the transition. source: bbc.com
- 09 Aug Caldas Frigate Crisis: On August 9, 1987, the Colombian Navy's corvette ARC Caldas entered the Gulf of Venezuela, an area disputed by Colombia and Venezuela. This incursion led to heightened tensions, with both nations mobilizing military forces and engaging in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully. source: washingtonpost.com
- 25 Sep Second military coup in Fiji led by Sitiveni Rabuka: On September 25, 1987, Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka led a second military coup in Fiji, overthrowing the caretaker government of Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau. This action followed the Deuba Accord, which aimed to establish a government of national unity. Rabuka's coup resulted in the suspension of the 1970 constitution and the declaration of Fiji as a republic on October 10, 1987. source: upi.com
- 02 Oct Ronald Reagan's activities on October 2, 1987: On October 2, 1987, President Ronald Reagan engaged in several activities, including signing the German-American Day Proclamation and meeting with advisors to discuss the Canada Free Trade Agreement. He also attended a farewell reception for Secretary Elizabeth Dole and participated in a signing ceremony for the German-American Day Proclamation in the Rose Garden. source: reaganfoundation.org
- 16 Nov Parlatino Treaty of Institutionalization signed in Lima, Peru: On November 16, 1987, the Treaty on the Institutionalization of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) was signed in Lima, Peru. This treaty established Parlatino as a permanent, unicameral institution comprising the national parliaments of Latin American countries, aiming to promote regional integration and cooperation. source: treaties.un.org
- 21 Nov Jonathan Pollard arrested for espionage: Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was arrested on November 21, 1985, for spying for Israel. He was convicted of passing classified information to the Israeli government, which led to significant diplomatic tensions. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 and was released in 2015 after serving 30 years. source: nytimes.com
- 08 Dec Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed: On December 8, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in Washington, D.C. This landmark agreement mandated the elimination of all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, marking the first time the superpowers agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals by eliminating an entire class of weapons. source: britannica.com
- 22 Dec Unity Accord signed between ZANU and ZAPU in Zimbabwe: On December 22, 1987, Zimbabwe's two major nationalist movements, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) led by Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) led by Joshua Nkomo, signed the Unity Accord. This agreement aimed to end the ethnic violence that had plagued the country since the early 1980s, particularly the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland. The accord led to the merger of ZANU and ZAPU into the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), with Mugabe becoming the new President of Zimbabwe after constitutional reforms on December 31, 1987. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 28 Dec Charles Malik, Lebanese diplomat and philosopher, dies at 81: Charles Malik, a Lebanese diplomat, philosopher, and politician, passed away on December 28, 1987, in Beirut at the age of 81. He was instrumental in drafting the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and served as President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1958 to 1959. source: washingtonpost.com
- 30 Dec Robert Mugabe becomes executive president of Zimbabwe: On December 30, 1987, Robert Mugabe assumed the role of executive president of Zimbabwe, consolidating the positions of head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This constitutional amendment abolished the position of Prime Minister, which Mugabe had held since 1980, and granted him sweeping executive powers. The same day, Mugabe signed a Unity Accord with Joshua Nkomo, leader of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), leading to the formation of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). source: britannica.com
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