home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Multimedia Mania
/
abacus-multimedia-mania.iso
/
dp
/
0018
/
00185.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-07-27
|
13KB
|
430 lines
$Unique_ID{bob00185}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Unified Germany
On the Path to German Unity - Chronology of Events}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{In Press}
$Affiliation{German Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{gdr
germany
german
chancellor
kohl
federal
republic
government
treaty
president}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title: Unified Germany
Book: Focus on the German Unification Process
Author: In Press
Affiliation: German Embassy, Washington DC
Date: 1990
On the Path to German Unity - Chronology of Events
1989
Starting in July
Refugees from the GDR are in the German missions in Berlin (East),
Budapest and Prague.
Since September
50,000 inhabitants of the GDR flee to the Federal Republic of Germany via
Hungary.
September 10
Chancellor Helmut Kohl thanks the Hungarian government for its decision
to allow the Germans from the GDR to leave Hungary.
September 25-29
Talks are held between the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
foreign ministers of the Soviet Union, the GDR, Poland, Hungary and
Czechoslovakia. Topic: Departure of the GDR refugees.
September 30
Around 6,000 refugees from the GDR at the Embassy of the Federal Republic
of Germany in Prague are allowed to leave for the Federal Republic.
Beginning of October
Some 1,500 refugees from the GDR at the Embassy of the Federal Republic
of Germany in Warsaw leave for the West.
October 7
Official celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the GDR.
Thousands of people demonstrate against the dictatorship of the Socialist
Unity Party of Germany (SED). The demonstrations are broken up by the police.
October 9
"Monday Demonstration" in Leipzig: 100,000 people chant, "We are the
people!" Further large-scale demonstrations follow in other cities.
October 18
After holding the reins of power for 18 years, SED General Secretary
Erich Honecker is removed from office. He is succeeded by Egon Krenz.
November 4
In Berlin (East), the largest protest demonstration in the history of the
GDR draws roughly one million people.
November 7
The government of the GDR resigns.
November 9
The Berlin Wall is opened and additional crossing points to the Federal
Republic of Germany are created.
November 10
Chancellor Kohl interrupts his trip to Poland and, together with other
politicians, speaks to the people of Berlin in front of the "Schoneberger
Rathaus" and at the "Gedachtniskirche".
November 13
Hans Modrow (SED) is elected the new president of the GDR Council of
Ministers.
November 22
Chancellor Kohl delivers a statement before the European Parliament in
Strasbourg concerning current events in the GDR.
November 28
Chancellor Kohl delivers a policy statement in the German Bundestag on
overcoming the division of Germany and Europe (ten-point programme).
December 1
The People's Chamber strikes the SED's power monopoly from the
constitution of the GDR.
December 4
NATO summit in Brussels: President Bush reports on his meeting with
President Gorbachev, at which the German question was the central topic.
December 3 and 6
SED General Secretary Egon Krenz resigns from all his party and
government offices.
December 7
The "Round Table" talks between the governing parties and the opposition
begin in the GDR. Free elections are announced.
December 8-9
European Council in Strasbourg: The heads of state and government declare
that the unification of Germany must be achieved in harmony with the Helsinki
Final Act and must be embedded in European integration.
December 16-18
In Budapest, Chancellor Kohl praises the Hungarian reform policies, which
were the prerequisite for the peaceful revolution in the GDR.
December 19-20
Chancellor Kohl holds talks in Dresden with Prime Minister Modrow on the
prospects for developing relations between the two German states and speaks to
the people of Dresden in front of the "Frauenkirche".
December 22
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is opened in the presence of Chancellor
Kohl, Prime Minister Modrow and other politicians of both German states.
December 24
The visa and minimum daily exchange requirements are abolished for
visitors entering the GDR from the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin
(West).
1990
January 4
At an informal meeting in Latche, Chancellor Kohl and President
Mitterrand discuss the developments in Germany and Europe.
February 10
Chancellor Kohl and Foreign Minister Genscher meet in Moscow with General
Secretary Gorbachev, who assures the Germans that they may live together in
one state.
February 13-14
Prime Minister Modrow visits Bonn. Chancellor Kohl suggests negotiations
on an economic and monetary union.
February 14
The foreign ministers of the four World War II victorious powers and of
the two German states agree to begin formal talks on German unity ("2 plus 4"
talks).
February 15
In Paris, Chancellor Kohl briefs President Mitterrand on his talks with
President Gorbachev and on the current developments in Germany.
February 24-25
Chancellor Kohl meets with President Bush at Camp David: The security
alliance between Europe and North America and friendship with the United
States are of fundamental importance to the unified Germany as well.
March 18
The first free elections are held in the GDR. The "Alliance for Germany"
(consisting of the Christian Democratic Union [CDU], Democratic Awakening and
the German Social Union) wins the elections.
March 19
At the CSCE Economic Conference in Bonn, Chancellor Kohl emphasizes that
the unification of Germany must be achieved in agreement with its neighbours
in West and East.
April 5
Constituent meeting of the first freely-elected People's Chamber of the
GDR. The physician Sabine Bergmann-Pohl is elected speaker of parliament and
also assumes responsibility as acting head of state for the GDR.
April 12
For the first time in its history, the People's Chamber of the GDR elects
a democratic government. A grand coalition is formed consisting of the
"Alliance for Germany", the Liberals and the Social Democratic Party [SPD].
Lothar de Maiziere is elected prime minister of the GDR.
April 19
The policy statement by de Maiziere declares a commitment to German
unity.
April 25-26
Franco-German consultations: Chancellor Kohl and President Mitterrand
exchange views on the progress of the German unification process.
April 28
The European Community heads of state and government welcome German
unification at a special meeting in Dublin and prepare the way for integrating
the GDR into the Community on achievement of German unity.
May 5
The foreign ministers of the two German states, Great Britain, France,
the United States and the Soviet Union meet in Bonn for an initial round of
talks on the external aspects of German unity ("2 plus 4" meeting).
May 6
Local elections are held in the GDR. The CDU continues to be the
strongest party.
May 16-17
In Washington, Chancellor Kohl informs President Bush of further steps
toward German unity and thanks him for his support at the "2 plus 4" talks,
particularly in regard to achievement of full sovereignty.
May 18
The Treaty Between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German
Democratic Republic Establishing a Monetary, Economic and Social Union is
signed in Bonn by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the
government of the GDR.
June 8
Chancellor Kohl and President Bush emphasize in Washington that full
membership of the united Germany in NATO is indispensable.
June 10
The three Western powers give up their reservations on the representation
of Berlin in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. As of June 21, Berlin
representatives have full voting rights.
June 17
In a joint session in Berlin (East), the German Bundestag and the
People's Chamber of the GDR commemorate the June 17, 1953, uprising in the
GDR.
June 21
The Bundestag and the People's Chamber approve identically worded
resolutions on the border between the united Germany and Poland. They announce
their willingness to reaffirm the definitive nature of the border on the basis
of an international treaty.
The Bundestag approves the Treaty Between the Federal Republic of
Germany and the German Democratic Republic Establishing a Monetary, Economic
and Social Union.
June 22
The Bundesrat approves the treaty.
In Assmannshausen, Chancellor Kohl briefs President Mitterrand on
the status of the German unification process.
June 25-26
European Council in Dublin: The heads of state and government welcome the
conclusion of the treaty between the two German states, with which integration
of the GDR into the European Community will be accelerated.
June 27
The government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the government of
the GDR approve a reciprocal agreement on the elimination of border checks
along the intra-German border as of July 1, 1990.
July 1
The monetary, economic and social union between the Federal Republic of
Germany and the GDR enters into force.
Previous emergency recognition procedures for resettlers from the GDR are
eliminated.
July 5-6
The heads of state and government at the NATO summit in London declare
that the unified Germany will be an indispensable stability factor in the
Atlantic Alliance.
July 9-11
The heads of state and government taking part in the economic summit in
Houston welcome the unification of Germany as a visible expression of the
right to self-determination and as a contribution towards stability in Europe.
July 14-16
Chancellor Kohl visits the Soviet Union and reaches an agreement with
President Gorbachev that the united Germany shall have full sovereignty, be
able to decide freely on its alliance membership in the future, and will
reduce the strength of its armed forces to 370,000 men. The Soviet Union
agrees to withdraw its forces from the GDR in three to four years.
July 17
The six foreign ministers in the context of the "2 plus 4" talks and the
foreign minister of Poland agree in Paris on principles for establishing the
definitive borders of the unified Germany. The ministers agree that instead
of a peace treaty a document on Germany regulating all questions concerning
the establishment of full sovereignty will be signed by the participants and
submitted for approval at the CSCE conference in November of this year.
July 22
The People's Chamber passes a law establishing states in the GDR. Under
this law five states will be formed.
August 2
An election treaty is signed between the Federal Republic of Germany
and the GDR establishing the modalities for the all-German election to take
place on December 2, 1990. Under this agreement, the election will be held
with a uniform five percent threshold requirement throughout the country and
with the possibility of establishing list links.
August 23
The People's Chamber in the GDR resolves to accede to the Federal
Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990.
August 31
The Unification Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the
GDR is signed at the Crown Prince Palace in Berlin by Interior Minister
Schauble and State Secretary Krause.
September 12
Talks between the foreign ministers in Moscow are concluded. The Treaty
on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany ("2 plus 4" treaty) is
signed.
September 19
The People's Chamber of the GDR ratifies the Unification Treaty.
September 20
The German Bundestag ratifies the Unification Treaty.
September 21
The Bundesrat holds its final deliberation on the Unification Treaty.
October 1-2
The document suspending Four-Power rights is signed in New York.
The CSCE foreign ministers meet in New York.
October 3
The GDR accedes to the territory of application of the Basic Law in
accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law. Five new states are formed in the
territory of the former GDR (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,
Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia).
October 4
The first session of the Bundestag with the 144 deputies delegated by the
People's Chamber of the former GDR is held in the Berlin Reichstag. The new
federal ministers are sworn in; the Chancellor delivers the policy
statement.
October 12
The Bundesrat meets; for the first time, plenipotentiaries of the five
new federal states participate (in an advisory capacity only).
October 14
Elections to the state parliaments are held in the five states located
in the territory of the former GDR.
November 3
The European Community heads of state and government hold a special
summit in Rome.
November 19-21
The CSCE special summit conference of the heads of state and government
concerning the future architecture of Europe is held in Paris.
December 2
The first all-German election to the German Bundestag is held.