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Document No. 151: East German Summary of the Ottawa Meeting of NATO and Warsaw Pact Foreign Ministers, February 12–13, 1990 ——————————————————————————————————————————— The Ottawa meeting of NATO and Warsaw Pact foreign ministers, originally convened to discuss President Bush’s May 1989 “Open Skies” proposal for greater transparency of the two alliances, was a landmark event in the process of diminishing mutual hostility between them. It may be surprising, given their historical antagonisms, that highlevel officials on both sides were willing to go to such considerable lengths to preserve the two organizations, but by this time East and West generally saw them as contributing to international stability. Among the important particulars discussed in Ottawa was the status of Germany, one of the core issues of the Cold War since its inception. By mid-1989, most of the East European representatives agreed unification was inevitable, astanceinnotablecontrasttotheviewsofSovietForeignMinisterEduardShevardnadze. ____________________ […] 1. In their opening remarks, all the foreign ministers welcomed this first opportunity for a meeting of states from both alliances to discuss the decisive changes in Europe. […] There was no consistent view on the developments in Europe in the assessments of the Warsaw Pact member-states. This illustrated an approach solely and directly oriented toward national interests. However, there was still some common interest in important issues such as: – joint efforts towards the breakdown of the bloc structure and the use of an effective CSCE framework to establish a new European security structure, – the convening of a CSCE summit in 1990 to sign an initial agreement on conventional disarmament in Europe, – including a solution to the German question in the CSCE process, and – the continuation of the CSCE process. […] Almost all the NATO states saw the changes in Eastern Europe as a victory and as justification for NATO’s policy for the past 40 years. It is very important that NATO continue to exist, allowing, however, for the possibility of modifications to the future activities of the Pact. 2. All of the speakers dealt with the German question. It was generally acknowledged that, based on the right to self-determination, both German states have the right to unify. At the same time, it was pointed out in numerous speeches and in bilateral talks between the foreign ministers of NATO and the Warsaw Pact that German 668 unification must be a process that does not threaten its European neighbors and does not hinder the unity of the continent. States such as Poland, the Netherlands and Italy called for the right to directly participate in discussions on the external aspects of German unification. In virtually all talks, concern was expressed regarding the rapidity of the unification efforts, for which nobody in Europe was prepared; and the wish for the stable development of the GDR as an important partner in the unification process was stated. There was far-reaching uncertainty over the future military status of a unified Germany. While, on the one hand, the NATO states saw full membership of a unified Germany in NATO as essential, on the other hand, there was also agreement by the NATO states that the balance of power in Europe could not be unilaterally changed to the disadvantage of the Soviet Union. […] 6. Open Skies The foreign ministers spoke in support of an “Open Skies” treaty. This would build trust and support the disarmament process. It was stated that the achievement of an “Open Skies” regime could also contribute to greater openness in other areas. […] [Source: DC/20, I/3/2917, pp. 168–90, SAPMO. Translated by Catherine Nielsen.] 669 ...

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