THE IMPACT OF THE BELGRADE DECLARATION ON ROMANIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF YUGOSLAV–ROMANIAN RELATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF 1955
THE IMPACT OF THE BELGRADE DECLARATION ON ROMANIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF YUGOSLAV–ROMANIAN RELATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF 1955

Summary/Abstract: Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to Yugoslavia and the signing of the Belgrade Declaration marked a pivotal moment in the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, as well as with the other Eastern Bloc countries. The visit raised hopes for a new era in which relations among socialist states would be founded on the principles of equality and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Perhaps the most remarkable outcome of this visit was the the Soviet Union’s recognition of the legitimacy of multiple paths to socialism. Although the Romanian leadership had been informed about the preparations for Khrushchev’s visit, they were kept in the dark about his specific objectives. The Soviet acknowledgment of responsibility concerning the rift between Yugoslavia and the Cominform sent shockwaves through Bucharest. Khrushchev’s subsequent visits to Sofia and Bucharest aimed to secure approval for the signed Declaration from the Bulgarian, Romanian, Czechoslovak, and Hungarian parties, and to inform them about the negotiations in Belgrade and the significance of the visit. Reactions among the members of the Romanian Workers’ Party and the general public varied widely. Many ordinary citizens harbored hopes that the Declaration would lead to a decrease in Soviet pressure and exploitation of their country. Among the intellectual elite, the Declaration sparked aspirations for a more liberal form of socialism that would enhance freedom in creative pursuits. Bolstered by the thaw in Yugoslav–Soviet relations and clear signals from Moscow, the process of normalizing Yugoslav–Romanian relations gained remarkable momentum. A series of agreements was reached, and significant obstacles were overcome, including the release of deported Serbs from the Bărăgan Plain and the liberation of minorities and Yugoslav citizens who had been unjustly imprisoned.

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