APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3
- December
- Ulbricht criticized for economic planning failures at 14th Central Committee plenum.
1971
- May
- Erich Honecker replaces Ulbricht as SED First Secretary.
- June
- Honecker's opening speech at Eighth Party Congress ratifying his accession indicates he would settle for less than full diplomatic recognition by West Germany; wishes success to Four-Power negotiations on Berlin.
- September
- Four-Power Agreement on Berlin initiated (signed in June 1972). Berlin remains under quadripartite authority with reduced political ties to West Germany; Soviet Union guarantees unimpeded access to West Berlin through East Germany. East-West German negotiations begin on supplementary agreements.
- October
- Major ideological speech to social scientists explicitly rejects Ulbricht's favorite themes.
1972
- April
- General Traffic Agremeent reached with Bonn in April (signed in May); covers transport of goods, travel of West Germans to East Germany virtually unrestricted, only emergency travel allowed to East Germans.
- Fifth Central Committee plenum adopts package of social legislation, granting additional benefits in pensions, rent and family assistance allotments.
- June
- Four-Power Agreement on Berlin is signed; discussions begin with Federal Republic on general treaty.
- October
- Government reorganization places greater power in hands of ministers at expense of advisory commissions, according to Honecker's dictates.
- November
- Agreement reached on general German treaty designed to end 25 years of Cold War hostility; states pledge to refrain from use of force, respect common border, recognize sovereignty of each state in internal and external affairs, left open question of reunification.
- East Germany becomes member of UNESCO and is granted observer status at U.N.
- Regime hails reelection of Brandt coalition in West German parliamentary election, implicitly taking some credit for victory.
1973
- January
- East and West Germany accorded equal representation at Helsinki preparatory talks for Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
- By end of January, 67 states had established diplomatic relations with East Germany, 34 since 7 December 1972.
42
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3
