NID: EAST GERMANY: MODROW AGAINST THE TIDE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826837
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: December 22, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826837
EAST GERMANY: Modrow Against the Tide
Premier Modrow's government is trying to drum up international
support for continued East German independence, but today's opening of
the Brandenburg Gate is likely to increase sentiment for unification.
East German media yesterday highlighted Frcnch President
Mitterrand's visit a day after the departure of West German
Chancellor Kohl. Press reports noted that it IA as the first visit by
an Allied head of state, that economic advisers accompanied the
President, and that Mitterrand called for bilateral ties comparable
to those Paris has with Bonn. East Germany 1 mited its reaction to
the US military action in Panama to vague expressions of concern
while harshly condemning the Romanian masiacres.
A pedestrian crossing between East and West Berlin will open today
at the Brandenburg Gate, closure of which ha long symbolized the
division of Germany. Press reports indicate Modrow, Kohl, West
Berlin Governing Mayor Momper, and East Berlin Mayor Krack will
attend the ceremonies. the West
Berlin Senate and East Germany intend to set up a Berlin regional
committee as early as tomorrow
Comment: Playing up the Mitterrand visit and Secretary Baker's visit
two weeks ago as evidence of Four-Power support for a separate,
sovereign East German state evidently is mean to help offset growing
prounification sentiment in East Germany. Mc drow probably hopes
that the French leader's go-slow approach to unification will dampen
some of the public enthusiasm aroused by Kohl's visit and that the
visit will help him in the election set for next May.
East Germany probably hopes its responses on Panama and Romania
and recent public suspensions of aid for some tadical Third World
regimes will help relations with the US and other Western nations
and gain economic assistance to help offset rap.dly increasing intra-
German ties. The move makes East Berlin's foleign policy
increasingly similar to Bonn's, however, and could backfire,
accelerating unification. In any case, the openirg of the Brandenburg
Gate and the new Berlin regional committee ay: further steps in the
Germanization of Berlirl issues and the erosion of Four-Power rights.
5
"Tirt) tecet,_
TCS 2996/89
22 December 1989
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826837