Chronicle

Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bereits im September 1989 schrieb ein weitsichtiger Diplomat des österreichischen Aussenministeriums eine ausführliche Analyse, in der er zu dem Schluss kam, dass die Frage der deutschen Wiedervereinigung in den kommenden Jahren ein bestimmendes Thema in der internationalen Politik sein wird.

Thomas Nowotny, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vienna, 19 September 1989

Information Memorandum for the United States Secretary of State, James A. Baker

Preliminary assessment of the implications of the dramatic events in East Berlin for US policy in Europe.

USA United States of America · State Department→James Baker, USA United States of America · State Department

Washington, D.C., 10 November 1989

Minutes of conversation by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

During the conversation between Foreign Minister Skubiszewski and Chancellor Kohl the latter’s decision to interrupt his visit to Poland and the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Polish-West German relations were discussed.

Poland · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→–

Minutes of the 34th Meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street on 15 November 1989 at 9.30 a.m.

The events in the GDR were discussed.

Great Britain · Government→–

Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

Die Reaktionen der US -Regierung, der Medien und der Öffentlichkeit auf die jüngsten Ereignisse in Berlin und der DDR werden dargestellt. Die eher verhaltene Erklärung von Präsident Bush, wird auf den Fokus der US -Regierung auf die Wahrung von Stabilität in der NATO zurückführt.

Eberhard Kölsch, Gebhardt von Moltke, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office→Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Bonn, 16 November 1989

Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

In response to the President’s request, an analysis of how recent events in Eastern Europe would impact Soviet policy in Germany. Included: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft/Robert Gates, 29.11.1989.

Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White House→George Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

Washington, D.C., 29 November 1989

Memorandum of conversation by the Austrian Federal Chancellery

Nur zwei Wochen nach der unbeabsichtigten Öffnung der Berliner Mauer hat der österreichische Bundeskanzler F. Vranitzky die DDR besucht. Ministerpräsident H. Modrow informierte über die aktuelle Situation in Ostdeutschland. Beide Regierungschefs nahmen zur Frage der Wiedervereinigung Stellung.

Eva Nowotny, Austria · Government→–

Vienna, 2 Dezember 1989

Letter from the Assistant Director-General for Eastern Europe, Yosef Govrin, to the Director-General of the Foreign Ministry, Reuven Merhav

East German overtures towards Israel, including public statements in press interviews. Govrin believes that the GDR sees Israel and world Jewry as potential allies against plans for German reunification.

Yosef Govrin, Israel · Foreign Ministry→Reuven Merhav, Israel · Foreign Ministry

Jerusalem, 17 December 1989

Memo for the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of the FRG, Jürgen Sudhoff

Bericht über die kühle Reaktion der italienischen Regierung auf die Ereignisse in Deutschland. Italien messe der Stabilität in Europa sowie dem Fortschritt der europäischen Integration und dem KSZE-Prozess grosse Bedeutung bei.

Beate Grzeski, Karl Heinz Kuhna, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office→Jürgen Sudhoff, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Bonn, 18 December 1989

Telegram from the Ambassador of the FRG in Paris, Franz Pfeffer, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRG

Information über die verschiedenen Reaktionen in Frankreich auf den Fall der Berliner Mauer und die jüngsten Entwicklungen in der DDR. Dabei wird die Notwendigkeit einer guten Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der deutschen Botschaft betont.

Helmut Elfenkämper, Franz Pfeffer, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Embassy in Paris→Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Paris, 18 Dezember 1989, 3.54 p.m.

Memorandum by the United States National Security Council

President Bush and Chancellor Kohl discussed proposals for the conventional force reduction talks in Vienna, particularly in light of recent developments in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

Philip D. Zelikow, USA United States of America · National Security Council→–

Washington, D.C., 26 January 1990

Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

M. Gorbatschow und E. Schewardnadse halten die deutsche Einigung für unvermeidlich. Deshalb konzentrieren sie sich darauf, die Entwicklung durch den KSZE-Prozess zu steuern und die deutsche Einigung als Katalysator zu nutzen, um die Entwicklung in Europa in ihrem Interesse zu beeinflussen.

Helmut-Wolfgang Brett, Klaus Neubert, Dietmar Stüdemann, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office→Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Bonn, 31 January 1990

Draft letter from the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, to the Chancellor of the FRG, Helmut Kohl

President Bush wrote to express support for Chancellor Kohl’s efforts to reunify Germany while remaining in NATO amidst rapidly changing events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Also: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft, 8.2.1990. Also: Memorandum for the President.

Robert D. Blackwill, USA United States of America · White House→Helmut Kohl, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Government

[Washington,] 9 February 1990

Telegram from the Canadian Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs, de Montigny Marchand

Observations on the corridor conversations during the Open Skies Conference in Ottawa in February 1990.

Jeremy K. B. Kinsmann, Canada · Global Affairs→–

Ottawa, 15 February 1990

Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

Discussion of the U.S. position in the upcoming Two-Plus-Four Talks on German reunification, particularly in light of Soviet concerns

Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White House→George Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

Washington, D. C., 19 February 1990

Telegram from the Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, Benjamin Navon, to the Israeli Foreign Ministry

A report on Foreign Minister Arens' talks in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl and President von Weizsäcker. Arens told the latter that he sees the reunification of Germany as "a foregone conclusion". Kohl said that East Germany was rapidly collapsing, and assured Arens that "there is no Fourth Reich, and never will be."

Benjamin Navon, Israel · Embassy in Bonn→Israel · Foreign Ministry

Bonn, 20 February 1990

Interview by the Irish Times with the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnaze

The USSR ’s approach towards the unification of Germany, considering it as a historic event meeting the aspiration of all German people, is laid out. However, it is underscored that the membership of the united Germany in NATO is unacceptable for the Soviet Union.

Eduard Shevardnadze, USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→The Irish Times

[Moscow,] 26 April 1990

Memo by the Polish Military Mission in West Berlin

Observations on the impact of German reunification on Polish-German relations. The need to develop pan-European cooperation based on the CSCE process with the participation of Canada and the United States.

Poland · Military mission in West Berlin→–

West Berlin, 28 May 1990

Telegram from the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn, Thomas W. Delworth, to the Canadian Department of External Affairs

Speculative reflections on the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, and what it means for Europe and the world.

Thomas W. Delworth, Canada · Embassy in Berlin→Canada · Global Affairs

Bonn, 23 July 1990