Anatomy how broken European Union leaders have agreed to impose sanctions on bellaver soft awakes of deadlock following the countrys contested election the breakthrough came early friday at a Foreign Policy summit in brussels. Its veto against the measure after securing e. U. Support in its dispute with turkey the sanctions on belarus will target dozens of senior officials accused of falsifying president ial Election Results and leading a crackdown on Peaceful Protesters president Alexander Lukashenko himself is not on the list. Your paint Council PresidentCharles Michel said the sanctions sent an important signal very important is a clear signal that we are critical its very important to do what 3. Decided a few a few weeks or do that we will implement dissensions. You know that whats on the table is a list was about 4040 names and we repeat it we would like to to to consider that the people of the have the right to do to mean what own future its also our intention to continue to develop in order to support the important use such as the freedom of the press freedom the freedom of speech. Society. And the Sticking Point in agreeing sanctions was getting support from cyprus cyprus wanted the e. U. To sanction turkey as well because turkey is drilling for gas in an area of the Mediterranean Sea that cyprus sees as its territory they w. s Brussels Bureau chief alexander phenomena explains how Member States finally managed to break the deadlock. The breakthrough on below saying was possible because cyprus agreed to come from my in return leaders toughened their stance on turkey threatening sanctions on iraq if what they call provo cations in the Eastern Mediterranean continue. Has a toolbox and its prepurchase to use its Commission President or the la fonda lyon said though she added that the block is interested in a constructive relationship with turkey and this is what officials describe as a 2 truck approach promising turkey more positive agenda and this same time staying firm and expressing solidarity with greece and cyprus according to uncle a merkel it was a long and sometimes hard discussion but the leaders managed to speak with one voice and to make good on their promises. Brussels bureau chief alexandra fun naaman ok russia france and the u. S. Have called for an immediate cease fire in the mountainous region of the going to cut above the region is internationally recognized as part of azerbaijan but has been controlled by Ethnic Armenian since a war in the early 9090 since the conflict flared again on sunday dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured. An attack and counterattack the Armenian Forces say they destroyed these Azerbaijan Army positions and azerbaijan says they hit back their ministry of defense released these videos they say this used to be a separatist military post as a barge on soldiers took it earlier this week back in 1992 neighboring russia france and the u. S. Mediated between the 2 warring nations on thursday the leaders of all 3 countries got involved again. Because the situation is serious in the region of nagornokarabakh. Pretty President Trump president putin and by self as the 3 co president s of the minsk group in charge of following the situation in the go and i care about we demanded an unconditional ceasefire. But the time for a ceasefire and negotiation is over according to turkeys president wretch of type. A lot of use so you put in a good if we discuss this with mr putin and with mr mccraw on but they always sat and talked no result it is now time for results and our azerbaijani brothers are taking the issue into their own hands. The way for lasting peace in this region depends on armenias withdrawal from every part of azerbaijan and territory. President added one supports azerbaijans claim to not go no care about and that stance is raising tension between ankara and its nato allies france and the us but despite the International Pressure the shelling continues wrecking homes and civilian lives both in the disputed region and on its outskirts. Ok lets turn now to some of the other stories making news protesters in the mongolian capital but have demanded the release of ethnic mongolians rest of the china for criticizing a language policy in schools the requirement to teach certain subjects in mandarin rather than mongolian has sparked weeks of rallies thursdays protest came head of a visit by u. S. Secretary of state might pump. Police in hong kong have arrested dozens of activists who were defying a ban on protests it comes as the city mocked the 71st anniversary of the founding of the peoples republic of china officials denied permission for rallies citing security concerns and coronavirus restrictions. Russian Opposition Leader alexina valmy has accused president Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning with a soviet era nerve agent involving his posted comments online as he is recovery in germany progresses and hes 1st intervene of elm the said i dont have any of the visions of how the crime was committed. At least 9 people have been killed and dozens more injured in wildfires in Eastern Ukraine the authorities in the region say acres of forest and grassland have been destroyed by fierce flames residents being evacuated from the area. The u. K. Departure from the European Union may become a matter for the courts today the e. U. Launched legal action against britain after the u. K. Refused to drop controversy a legislation that would violate the brigs agreement and break International Law european Commission President on the line announced the move in brussels ahead of the summer. Brussels had given london a hard deadline europes british friends as well as on a funded lion puts it have been given until wednesday to revise their proposal and because london did not react brussels is now doing so the commission has decided to send a letter a formal notice to the u. K. Government this is the 1st step in an infringement procedure but that invites the u. K. Government to send its observations within a month. The british lower house only approved the controversial internal market bill on tuesday it would no more find the border agreement on Northern Ireland in the already existing brecks it treaty. Will lose the earlier deal was meant to avoid a physical border with each member ireland. London says it will answer the letter in due course but this dispute puts a further strain on the talks with britain over a free trade deal time is running out if no agreement is reached theres the risk of a hard break sit and the reintroduction of custom duties. Spawns government has ordered the capital madrid back into lockdown amid a surge in the number of corona virus infections the countrys Health Minister said thursday that new cases in the madrid region accounted for almost 44 percent of new infections across the country in the previous 24 hours Regional Government had opposed the measure now says it will comply and instead launched a legal challenge against the lockdown. This hustle and bustle could soon become a thing of the past as madrid prepares for its 2nd lockdown. Its exasperating not knowing whats going to happen tomorrow but i understand that given how cases are increasing in madrid a lock down is the only solution so well have to do it. With the hospitals that capacity and infection rate spiralling out of control this Spanish Government had little choice but to act conservative regional leaders fiercely opposed plans to lock down the capital after weeks of political infighting they finally agreed on thursday. For now they agreed measures are mild compared to those spain in force throughout the entire country in spring this time Madeleine Hughes will not be restricted to their homes but will still be able to venture outside to go to school or work or to go shopping crossing municipal borders for nonessential reasons will not be allowed but bars and restaurants will be permitted to operate at 50 percent of their capacity though they will have to close early. Some fear this could be too little too late because the measures that this ban is government have proposed are in my opinion insufficient because they are minimal but they could contribute to preventing the collapse that we had in march with. The economic consequences the coming lockdown could have on those are already in dire straits are also a concern if we have a new lockdown in madrid sales will drop by 30 or 40 percent but health comes 1st without health we cannot work with about of them being able to measure seem fine to me if we can continue to nomic activity inside the city as long as we can keep that up so people dont lose their jobs and the crisis doesnt become worse than their pet damage. The coming weeks will show whether this frail political compromise will suffice to turn the tide of madrids rising infections. To sport and by mean extra rob levin dusky has been named european football of the year by governing body you wife but by and did have some good news when they were drawn and i tricky good for the the fans of the Champions League. Yet another trophy for bion munich Robert Lennon dusky was named european mens player of the year for the 1st time a day after his side when the german super cup their 5th title of the year polands levon dos he scored a mind boggling i think the 5 goals in all competitions but by and last season that hes 16 more than any other player in europes top 5 leagues. Amazing winning because you know you feel. Something Something Special and i have to say. Thank you to my my coaches manual noir was voted as the Champions League best goalkeeper while teammate you lose your kidney one best defender is by and dominated the awards hanzi flick was also named best coach. The draw for the group stage of this seasons Champions League was less joyful for holders by any means they face and or could Group Without letting on madrid sulzberger and Lokomotiv Moscow in another standout group little missies barcelona will clash with cristiana right now those eventers. You wait for also announced clubs could fill 30 percent of their stadiums with home fans if local authorities agree amid the coronavirus pandemic the ceremony in geneva also saw denmarks piniella harder pick up the womens best player award last season she want to fulfil even book double with germanys vosburgh yeah im super are not to achieve this award. Its one of the biggest awards you can you can achieve individually. So i am super happy and proud german football is dominating like never before. To the n. F. L. Where this weekends game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers has been moved to light it in the season off to several positive coronavirus test among titans plays and stuff the league had initially planned to postpone sundays game by just the diodes but the titans practice facility remains closed and the n. F. L. Has now accepted a long good delay the league will announce a new date for the game at a later date. Youre up to that you can stay that white 5 visiting us all on the dot com thats where youll be able to down by the day w. At you can also follow us on instagram and twitter as well the handle is at news dot phil the talks that negotiate the german unity is up next on the double e. For now though im at the house from 8 admitting here and so then thanks very comforting. And hope many foolish old loves us right now from the Climate Change because very often stores face is my place and when photos and one week. Before its going to really just work. We still have time to ask im going. To. Set. The cold war ended in moscow in 1990 bringing a new era of peace to europe a divided germany was free to reunite the treaty that pave the way for german unity was signed here in moscow 30 years ago it was a historic victory for democracy and the deep rifts in europe were on the road to recovery. The load is real im still aware that this was the most important signature of my life the book. It wasnt an illusion it was a political project to keep. We did a lot of things a lot differently then when we won the cold war against a certain. Soviet ambassador about a small town a coffee course here in moscow 30 years ago when the victorious powers of the 2nd world war determined the fate of germany moscow looks back on this treaty with far more criticism than the west does. No good most of. Those years i think listen see a speeches and champagnes the lift or rather trying to send annoying off to taste the a new when you think about all of the problems that arose during the many negotiations about what to finally do with germany may put b. S. When you consider that a treaty was supposed to solve all problems once and for all that people had been fighting over for many decades is. The Global Political decisions made back then still affect the world today the great power struggles of the time could have thwarted german reunification or people forget today that this was something that there are a lots of things that couldve gone wrong and so you wanted to try to move it forward theres rapidly but is securely as possible and the key driver for that was the people on the ground in germany. 1989 was a time of euphoria in germany as the berlin wall crumbled the iron curtain in europe lifted. But how would moscow react most people thought soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev would never release east germany the soviet union had sacrificed so. Many people during the 2nd world war and east germany was compensation the day after the wall fell the people of berlin were celebrating the end of a divided germany with their chancellor helmut kohl an envoy from the kremlin would soon arrive in the west german capital bonn on a secret mission he was greeted at the chance to marry by horst tell chick helmut kohls Foreign Policy advisor. He was acting very secretively. Rich to fish but it had important talks of the highest level and they discussed a lot of issues fear foreign to scoot all the issues that some kind of connection to the topic of german unity to them too much. Yellow shirt ability of i think that was a mistake on our part and for the ethical will shed actually come to talk about what could be done after the full of the wall to put the brakes on the reunification froze that it was but if you had to calm the situation down this isnt an issue but he expressed that in a very unclear man a you know a. My belief that my report to the chancellor said that and they are starting to talk about german unity that its high time that we did too this was as old. Coals poll ratings were dire at the time tented saw an opportunity to boost the chancellors popularity. Thats i told him this was a chance to announce his intentions for german reunification that. That same night tell chick started drafting a 10 point plan to reunite germany but cole kept it secret until november 28th when he presented his plan for reunification in the bundestag it came as a surprise even to their Coalition Partner the f. D. P. And foreign minister hans dietrich. Is you know both but i know very little child. Shoot but were also prepared to go on a major step further confort to develop can federal structures between the 2 german nations if we can we do with the aim of creating a federation a federal state ordered in germany. Made a speech was momentous. We thought it would be another 5 to 10 years before germany was actually reunited that. Guenter travel to moscow the chancellors arbitrary 10 point plan had angered the victorious powers of the 2nd world war and sure had to apologize to gorbachev and ask for his understanding about west germanys desire to reunite. Me and im pleased i have never taken part in a political discussion where one of the parties let their anger rage so out of control and its. Lessons. Gorbachev accused the chancellor of interfering in the internal affairs of east germany submission nastys english base but as for me after that conversation i just couldnt imagine in the soviet union green to a process that would allow the reunification of our country any time in the foreseeable future of society for. The western allies were also concerned about the way things were developing in germany and especially the british leader margaret thatcher. The political in the british Prime Minister was strictly against a reunification of germany which its. Well below does match is temperamental who was germany was hostile from the start. She was very hostile to the salaciously to the germans circle she never had any confidence in the germans as she said theyll betray you and they will be training the way. She had a conversation with overtures through in the summer of 98 you know and when she called with a boost. To discuss that is given this she had a couple of conversations with crossfire mitchell who share his killings initially would say express them even more forcefully than she ever did of course later judge were going to go to he changed his position will record the she did but at the beginning his views were were he was very very worried to board a plane and i thought if i was always the hope and i was irish and french were both worried that germany would just play a hedge a modicum visions again. After all germanys g. D. P. With the same as france and britain put together. As a stick there was a potential threat that arose. President francois mitterrand said straight away. She will if you want to unite germany thats your business you can do that everything decisions you like me i wouldnt interfere. If you want frances approval even you need to respect what 3 conditions. In order lice in order to heal and to see a mode of the denuclearization of germany and 3 really europe. Washington was also following this political earthquake in germany west germany had hoped that the powerful United States would support reunification. As the u. S. Was seen as a necessary indispensable a that would help to overcome resistance from the french and british sides which side foreign minister genscher traveled to washington to discuss proceedings with u. S. Secretary of state james baker bakers colleagues own ready had precisely ideas about how the International Negotiations on german unity should play out we focused on the idea that the key players of the 2 germanys and the 4 powers that had the rights Robert Zelnick set out americas goals in a confidential strategy document that the u. S. Wanted to. Solidify its leadership role in europe through what became known as the 2 plus 4 talks and to keep a united germany within the western military Alliance Nato zelotes paper reads we want them in our tent not in one of their own working with the germans right now gorbachev needs to show he has some control over the process 2 plus 4 gives him that cover with little real control. One would know this would be hard for the soviets and when the soviets would push back you needed to respond with a united front. The Us Government was very firm about its stipulation. Of the board came with the demands of the united germany must be a member of nato that was a stumbling block that we werent expecting or pushed on routinely nish delays due to. The question was how when the soviet union react how could anyone convince corporate chef to agree to the stipulation of the United States. Had an idea. We have agreed that there would be no intention to expand the need to jurisdiction eastwards that doesnt just apply to east germany it applies in general. So thats good. While standing next to the u. S. Secretary of state announced that the west would respect the Strategic Interests of the soviet union. Since the end of the 2nd world war large group units of the red army had been stationed on east german territory they crushed the uprising in east germany by force in 1953 just as they did later in 1968 with the prague spring. Susan type we had over a 180000. 00 soviet troops in the country at that time we had a whole family full of wives and children too. We had soviet Security Forces i think the total number of people was around 650000 total mention of those. Soviet foreign minister said so once told me that in january 1090. 00 soviet leaders were still thinking about deploying troops in east germany and closing the borders against some additional easily could have on the east german army would have marched along to. Them as you think you. Just such despise. See if actions and harsh decisions werent exactly go bitch old style mature in the. Severe measures werent in his nature it wasnt how he operates it that they were he still criticized for it today in our country and others words and those are against the. U. S. Secretary of state james baker visited moscow on a mission to win gorbachevs approval for the 2 plus for negotiations on german unity baker felt optimistic we saw gorbachev and shevardnadze as reformers. We believed them to be that they turned out to be the head. But baker knew the kremlin would strongly oppose a united germany becoming a member of nato. War every top soviet politician every so vehicle person even song need to as an Enemy Alliance it needs to was perceived as an enemy of the soviet union with the brits and in fact nature was actually find it was under that premise its at least as there was a book. Getting gorbachevs approval would be a tall order baker iterated gantries message that if gorbachev agreed to the nato membership the u. S. Would not take military advantage. I remember bakers words it was you dont have to answer immediately but think about this. Assuming there is no expansion of nato or jurisdiction to the east not more niche wouldnt it be better and then he described to have a germany in scotched in nato with an American Military presence in europe for the future stability of the drug. For hansard. Well obviously an expansion of nato to the east who is unacceptable but i understand what youre saying and i will give it serious thought. What baker said here would be assured time and time again by western politicians to the soviet union there would be no eastward expansion of nato there was no intention to change the current military power balance in europe a claim that would come back to haunt baker. Within 2 days the United States position changed on that we told the soviet our position thats not our position they never said anything its still a bone of contention today did baker and other western politicians make promises about nato that their successors didnt keep music so whats it like if it was a mistake not to treat these assurances the need to would not expand east in writings they use that was a very big mistake now were left to face the music and live with the consequences of that mistake basically if theyre secure then effect i think that was clear that without those assurances it would have been much harder for gorbachev to. Agree. To the 2 plus 4 grew much. The day after bakers meeting chancellor cowen German Foreign minister genscher arrive in moscow the soviets were clearly happy with americas assurances about nato cole also promised Financial Aid gorbachev gave the green light for the 2 plus