A lot of progress but divisions between east and west. Have you with us u. S. President donald trump is being treated at a Military Hospital after testing positive for covert 19 hes expected to remain at Walter Reed Medical Center for several days trumps doctor says he eats taking the drug year earlier white house officials said the hospitalization was only a precautionary measure and trump would continue his president ial duties. The 1st glimpses of the u. S. President since he shocked the world with his covert 1000 diagnosis. Here donald trump has been transferred to hospital with officials insisting its only a precautionary measure the white house said he was fatigued but in good spirits and experiencing mild symptoms before takeoff the president assured his supporters he was doing ok. Everybody for the tremendous support. I think. To make sure the. First lady is doing. So thank you very much appreciate it. The white house had been on high alert after news that a top aide was diagnosed with a virus on thursday. Hope pics seen here in the brown coat often travels with president trump. Now the race is on to trace and test the people who might have come in contact with the president and the potential pool of people is huge with an election to win trump has been on the road addressing voters and he hasnt always won a face mask or followed social distancing guidelines outside of walter reed Trump Supporters gathered to show their support for the president. But with a month until the election illness has thrown the campaign into uncharted territory. If donald trump sustain office hes going to have to beat the coronavirus 1st. Joining me now our washington correspondent meyer schwager meyer what do we know right now about the president s condition and the treatment that hes receiving. Well as weve heard his symptoms were at 1st described as just my old and then later in the day i said oh theyre actually moderates and according to the doctors that are attending to him hes taking pretty well to the cocktail of antibiotics that they have him on the 1st lady in the meantime has also been tested positive has quote a mild cough and headache the white house is really trying to project an image that you know hes still with it theres nothing to worry about hes working hes in good spirits hes energetic but at the end of the day we have media reports that hes actually pretty feverish and theres been no official briefings from any doctors we have only have the word of the White House Communications team to go on this white house has been very noncommunicative very untransparent about what the story is theyve been that way really about his medical history in general throughout his term when it came out that he was moving to the hospital congressional leaders came forward and said they had received no briefings as to his situation you know this is a white house that has spent the last months now of this pandemic gaslighting the public as to the severity of this disease and now with so Little Information out there theres a lot of misinformation thats been spreading. How serious is this situation. Yeah its been quite a blast radius shall we say i think were up to 8 people at least who have come forward and said that they have also tested positive going to look at my list to make sure i get this right we have former new Jersey Governor Chris Christie his former aide Kellyanne Conway his truck his Campaign Manager these are all people who are very close to the president least 2 senators also its spreading among the top d. C. Politicos but its not just the venom in the past week trump has traveled to 7 different states for various big rallies and fundraisers last saturday he was in pennsylvania for a big rally thousands of people attended and now the state Health Authority has come forward and said people who attended that rally need to get tested so its not just people in his close circle its potentially thousands of people across the country that former governor of new jersey Chris Christie you just mentioned just the other day said that he was helping the president prepare for his debate and nobody in the room was Wearing Masks its a very Interesting Development there. So the president s been hospitalized we know hell be out of commission for at least the next several days what does this mean for the election. This is another destabilizing moment in what has been an enormous shattering Campaign Season we know that he canceled or postponed all of his big rallies and the thing is these rallies are they are his campaign they are his hallmark his base loves them its where he gets his energy and if you believe the polls he is trailing rather badly in the polls behind his opponent joe biden so this is not a Good Development for his campaign now in terms of bite in biden has to balance not looking too crass or overly political about this illness thats spreading in washington when making a closing statement about his candidacy in the last 30 days that we now have before the election so you can bet that hes going to be hammering home his Health Care Plan his pandemic carvery plan his economic Recovery Plan and trying to draw a bright line between what he has and the trump approach which has been shall we say much more cavalier money schwager with the latest on whats been the extraordinary political season in the United States to say the least thank you. Turning now to some other stories making news around the world at this hour early voting has begun in new zealands general election Prime Minister just into dern was among the 1st to cast her ballot in the lead up to election day on october 17th the Labor Party Leader is expected to win a 2nd term thanks for her handling of the krona virus endemic and other crises hundreds have turned out for fresh protests in the indian capital delhi after now alleged gang rape victim died of her injuries to suite the family say she was cremated without their consent in the middle of the night protesters to choose authorities of trying to hush up the crime. Germany is marking the 30th anniversary of reunification an event many thought would never happen east germans were hoping for a better life many found new opportunities and improve their standard of living but others found themselves in the midst of upheaval and were left behind even now 30 years later divisions remain between east and west. There was no master plan no example worldwide for this is turning event jam unfreezing case and. Not even a year before the bell and wall had come down after months of peaceful protest in the form. Of u. S. U. K. France and the soviet union gave the green light paving the way to unify the 2 germany. Those from the east had to adapt to many things new money and the Economic System and the new lifestyle soon the disillusionment kicked in. Missing. A. Few new. Financial called. The social medical. Connected with the client economic decline or germany and the u. S. Unemployment no ready measure before in east germany as many as 4000000 workers in the east saw their jobs disappear countless others had to take on the work that was below their qualifications many young and educated people left to look for a better life some areas feel the neglected to this day. There are rural areas where theres a lot of poverty and rip people feel left behind turning towards what they have which is often their National Identity or even their racial identities and the last National Elections the center right and center left parties were more popular in the west than germany the far left and extreme right in eastern germany. A celebration nevertheless takes place every year with good reason we have had 30 years of peace and prosperity for a lot of people we think of germany as such a stable and secure country i think its amazing when you look back at german history over 100 years germany went through from a monarchy to a failed democracy to a dictatorship to a communists system to a successful democracy inventor unifications a reinvention is the real headline for german history regardless of the differences we unify germany is often seen as an example of a stable and democratic country. Im joined now by florentine schmidt man historian from the light needs center for contemporary history in parts of them germany shes a specialist on communist east germany as well its nice to have you here on the set and let me start by asking you this what significance to you we unification have for younger germans today. I think that the Younger Generation takes the reunification for granted so its simply not possible to imagine this division for 40th and so i think reunification is. A celebration to do but its nothing that. Really impact its you always have to imagine how could it have been to 2 to not be able to maybe study in eastern germany or to live in west germany so its always a big part of imagination i suppose you could argue the young germans are not unlike young people in any country in that regard i suppose 30 years after the event would you say that the east in the west or on equal footing in other words would you say that theyve been able to realise equality. Well in terms of equal pay and. I think its not its not the same you can still really you have the difference between west and east if youre for example the public sector. But on the other hand i think that especially young the young generation has the same chances so i think yes in a way it is and we still have a little bit to go to really make it equal to equal pay but i think were on a good good way to go would you say that theres some resentment still however on the part of these tremendous. Sure sure and also on the point of west germans i mean its 40 years this is not not a very short time and its a whole generation maybe even 2 generations of people and those people are still working and now most of them. Theyre going to be retired one day and but they didnt have a lot in common i mean now for me now its clear that they are germans both but a long time it was and was not it was different it was 2 states coexisting in. Everyday life obviously for the typical east german radically transformed after reunification but im curious about how west germans perceive this is sort milestone. Thats an interesting point because i think that people in west germany you really have to. To make a difference if they were in contact with german people for example if they had relatives they. May be they they went on a regular basis there to visit with family and they really had understanding of how life in the g. D. R. Is but if you didnt have any contact with those people most of the west germans were not really interested so i think reunification for most of the people came very very surprising and as well we have the solidarity tax so there are some points where people say ah well money goes to that so its a lot of. Like just some thoughts that are not really. On the mind with with with substance its just something that you heard of and there are even people that have a visit to germany. Place even though its beautiful. So i think. You made it very clearly florentine schmidt its a pleasure to have you with us thanks so much. Im michael local in berlin up next our documentary series doc film looks at the historic 2 plus 4 treaty that made german unification possible stay with us for that. Can you hear me now oh yes were going to debut and how last years gentle soft sound will bring you back or as youve never have before surprise yourself with what is possible who is magical really what and move sad and want also to talk to people who follows along the way maurice and critics alike join us from eccles life stops. The cold war ended in moscow in 1990 bringing a new era of peace to europe a divide in germany was free to reunite the treaty that paved 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. But a lot is we are still aware of was that this was the most important signature of my life the book. It wasnt an illusion it was a political project. We did a lot of things for a lot differently then when we won the cold war against the sure. Soviet ambassador baddest mattera cough was here in moscow 30 years ago when the victorious powers of the 2nd world war determine. The fate of germany moscow looks back on this treaty with far more criticism than the west does. By me this i think listen see is speeches and champagne lift or rather trying to send annoying off to taste in new when you think about all of the problems that arose during the many negotiations about what to finally do with germany maybe. 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. The local political decisions made back then it still affects 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 could have 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. That auto 989. 00 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 chick helmut kohls form. Policy advisor. He was acting very secretively. Rich to do believe had important talks of the highest level and they discussed a lot of issues fear foreign to school to all the issues that some kind of connection to the topic of german unity to do too much. The other shouldnt i think that was a mistake on our part and to the ethical field actually come to talk about what could be done after the full of the wall to put the brakes on the reunification frozen it was built for us to calm the situation down this isnt an issue but he expressed that in a very unclear man a leader in the. Least in my report to the chancellor said that and they are starting to talk about german unity then its high time that we did too this was as of 2. Calls poll ratings were dire at the time township saw an opportunity to boost the chancellors popularity. Out there i told him this was a chance to announce his intentions for german reunification hurt for. That same night tel kickstarted drafting a 10 point plan to reunite germany but kohl 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. This is the well for i know no child to shoot but we are also prepared to go on a major step further contra to develop a federal structures between the 2 german nations with the aim of creating a federation a federal state order in germany. To show off. The radio speech was momentous. We thought it would be another 5 to 10 years before germany was actually. When united said that. Cantor traveled 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 them. And im glad it isnt because i have never taken part in a political discussion where one of the parties left their anger rage so out of control to. Get us out. Of the gorbachev accuse the chancellor of interfering in the internal affairs of east germany submission nasties and the space that was for me after that conversation i just couldnt imagine in the soviet union or graeme to a process that would allow the reunification of our country any time in the foreseeable future of safety for. The western allies were also concerned about the way things were developing in germany especially the british leader margaret thatcher. The politically the british Prime Minister was strictly against a reunification of germany its. Batches temperament who was germany was a hostile from the start she was very hostile it is a sleigh surely to the germans circle she never had any confidence in the germans as she said theyll betray you and they will be trailing. She had a conversation with the overtures through in the summer of 90 days you know in which she calls through and they both started to discuss their misgivings she had a couple of conversations with our mutual who share his skivvies initially indeed would say express them even more forcefully than she ever did because later gender equality is going to change his position will record that she did but at the beginning his views were. He was very very word toward a man thatll be for its always in the heart and i was at our initial french were both worried that germany would just play a hedge a modicum visions again it wasnt after all germanys g. D. P. With the same is france and britain but together they were thats as a stick there was a potential threat that arose. Plus french president francois mitterrand said straight away i mean she will if you want unite germany thats your business feel you can do that under above everything decisions you like i wouldnt interfere pull the shuffles if you want frances approval even you need to respect for the conditions. The order nice in order to heal and to see more of the denuclearization of germany and 3 of the really europe. Washington was also following this political earthquake in germany west germany had hoped that the powerful United States would support reunification. As a 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 travel to washington to discuss proceedings with u. S. Secretary of state james baker bakers colleagues already had precisely ideas about how the International Negotiations on german unity should play out we focused on the idea that the key players are the 2 germanys and the 4 powers that had the rights Robert Zelnick set out americas goals in a confidential strategy document the us 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 xilinx 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 u. S. Government was very firm about its stipulation. Of this the board came with a demand that the united germany must be a member of nato and that was a stumbling block that we werent expecting and we do business feel 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. Weve 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. But so thats good. While standing next to the u. S. Secretary of state can sure announce that the west would respect the Strategic Interests of the soviet union. Since the end of the 2nd world war large troop 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 the time we got a whole family full of wives and children to shoes we had soviet Security Forces i think the total number of people was around 650000 towards unmentionables. Soviet foreign minister shevardnadze i once told me that in january 993 soviet leaders were still thinking about deploying troops in east germany and closing the borders again so this leisurely could have and the east german army would have marched along to. The words you think you. Just decide. See if actions and harsh decisions went exactly go but your old style mature in the ever be able to feeble severe measures once 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 good for 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 soviet person even saw need to as an Enemy Alliance needs who was perceived as an enemy of the soviet union with the brits and in fact nature was actually finds under that premise its the most a book. Getting gorbachevs approval would be a tall order baker reiterated 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 ensconced in nato was an American Military presence in europe for the future stability of the drug. Gorbachev answered. That well obviously any expansion of nato to the east who was on acceptable 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 you know. 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 sites like you it was a mistake not to treat these assurances the need to would not expand east in writings mostly is that the bill of that was a very big mistake now were left to face the music and live with the consequences of that mistake just if theyre secure going to then effect i think that it was clear that without those assurances it would have been much harder for gorbachev to. Have to agree. To the 2 plus 4 agreement. 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 4 agreement on german unity. Could see the. Assistant general secretary gorbachev has unequivocably given me his word that the soviet union will respect the wishes of the charm. To live as one nation with. But the soviet union also had conditioned foreign minister shevardnadze stipulated before the International Press that a unified germany would have to maintain political and military neutrality upon his return home brushed over this very clear message from the kremlin he didnt want to taint the good news. That the soviet union imagine a unified germany in late had stayed good at yes of course all this was said yesterday. Kohl strategy was successful and his popularity grew hed make further offers of Financial Aid to gorbachev to discourage the kremlin from doing anything to block the way forward because we have others as you none of this would have happened if the soviet union hadnt been in such a dire economic position at the time if you like. Good so we didnt know it was struggling to keep its head above water and the west in that this it was a unique opportunity i just had to be sealing a guy just suits. In the Canadian Capital ottawa tensions were stirring over german reunification efforts many Foreign Ministers of the 23. 00 nato and warsaw pact countries were angry that they hadnt been included in the 2 plus for talks on german unity with a dramatic struggle ensued behind the scenes together germany and the us managed to fend off demands for a huge peace conference it would have had to involve around 100. 00 countries any nation that had charges against nazi germany. And freedoms for. Peace treaty with out of the question for us. If whatever that inevitably what the issue of reparations abiogenesis sure. We wanted to keep the bat out of the unification process at all costs ensues im hurt with you for and your sports history like. If there. Had been a peace conference all the countries occupied by german troops during world war 2 could have to mended reparations the u. S. Wasnt prepared to enter years of negotiations and put its foot down it was complicated everybody felt like they had a stake in the process but he said no its going to be to place shortly. Before the negotiations started chancellor kohl flew to the us to spend 2 days at camp david with president george h. W. Bush it was here that they set out a game plan for the 2 plus 4 talks. Really good position because we established early on as camp david a relationship of confidence and trust between kohl and bush and to ensure baker and we said we will Stay Together and we will push this through a regardless of the opposition provided. Chester cole you support the idea of germany in may 2. It was clear from the confidential minutes that bush and cole saw eye to eye when coerced the american president what could be offered to the soviet union in return for germanys nato membership bush said to hell with that we prevailed and they didnt we cant let the soviets clutch victory from the jaws of defeat cole they will want something in return bush youve got deep pockets. The 1st ever Election Campaign for a democratically elected government in east germany the vote on march 18th 1900 would decide who represented east germany in the 2 plus 4 talks. Helmut kohl promised a fast Economic Union and a shared currency between the 2 german nations he supported the g. D. R. Coalition alliance for germany whose top candidate was low tardy months year the alliance also wanted a fast reunification with west germany it won with 48 percent of the vote people true cool going to the people of east germany didnt vote for the c. D. U. Because they wanted to but because they knew that helmut kohl it was behind him to this result brings an incredible responsibility and an expectation of our people but this isnt just an expectation of us but also of west germany and we expect clear answers. Pretty normally when a politician is elected the 1st thing they do is to think about how to get reelected in 4 years we didnt need to do that our task right from the start was to abolish ourselves sets up social studies teacher its true that i was Prime Minister but i was also a kind of insolvency administrator because of the. No time to mess here formed a coalition with eastern s. P. D. Marcos meco became foreign minister he didnt trust the members of the previously governing socialist unity Party Differences all and. And it was extremely difficult to create proper decisionmaking structures during this time i walked into the Ministry Like it was the enemys house his house. Necco broad with him confidants from the Peace Movement people who he aligned with like hans youre going missile bits the form of. The formula was unity as fast as possible but as good as necessary we had 2 objectives certain conditions were not in the interest of the population we represented. At the 1st 2 plus 4 talks in bonn the us and the western allies were forming a front against the soviet union that was only diplomatically concealed. Genscher promised east German Foreign minister mechelle there would be such close cooperation that not even a sheet of paper would fit between them. Just to show the dominance at the time i didnt understand what gain she had really meant by that too that i should follow him so closely i only realized later that he was saying i should follow him like a loyal dog but at the time i was still under the illusion that we were part of the negotiations and discussions would i have a problem even remembering the name of the trap who represented the g. D. R. And i feel sorry actually for them because you know the people who are representing them for the purposes are to pass for were living in the hope they didnt have a lot of leverage over any of this i dont feel any board around the table thought that the outcome of these negotiations was going to depend on whether sitting behind the g. D. R. Desk agreed or not if working with you and we just didnt want to fall like a rotten apple into west germany where they would just decide what they do with us in trouble mostly because mark. The 1st round of the 2 plus 4 talks proved difficult while for. Britain and west germany were aligned with the american strategy the soviet delegation wanted to subject a unified germany to strict conditions edvard shevardnadze demanded political and military neutrality from germany. Wins a good position. Our position in west germany was not made any easier by east germany as the lack of cooperation does didio he a bit loose leash g. D. R. Was not thrilled about that with country of being a nato member of it because im george hotz least because in fact it rejected the idea she had a pivot also i just wasnt talking on our agenda to be the 1st to stand up and shout yes we have to be in need to move the absolute truth a very cautious stance. We didnt want to do anything that was in any way further de stabilized gorbachevs the message was all that it is double easier to work for handwritten notes from the 1st round of talks made by tina. Highlighted the main problem and the position of the g. D. R. It reads the key issue is the power balance in europe it cannot be destroyed during the talks the u. S. And the u. S. S. R. Engaged in a power struggle over their influence in europe there wasnt one for once least because either for us the russians were the enemy per se we had a relatively relaxed relationship with the soviet union as were the 2 and we knew that all the up evils that happened in the fall of the wall on the Peaceful Demonstrations against us and they were only possible because of the moses of support from mosque or comments makers from. In the chancellors bungalow in bonn a day before the negotiations it became clear that the soviets could not keep up this harsh front foreign minister shevardnadze that was asking for Financial Aid. Received the same request. To one doctor thought it would be on the show or not so i said it will be inside. By next year and if that happens gorbachev will be reelected at the Party Congress at the start of july 4th out here we will be able to see this treaty through. Chancellor kohl sent his advisor horst tell chick and representatives from germanys major banks to moscow on may 14th to fulfill the needs of the kremlin but also im driving to i was in moscow for a secret meeting in may 1919 with 2 german bankers to negotiate a loan of 5000000000. 00 each marks for its goal is to follow the soviet union this world power would have been insolvent 5 summer 990. 00 and we had the mandate to negotiate that goes so that was an aha moment for all of this. The u. S. Had also promised Financial Aid to the soviet Union Gorbachev came on a state visit to washington where president bush offered him a trade agreement but in return he would have to make political compromises and i remember the discussion in the cabinet room in the white house and we asked garber child the question. Do you not think that in a country should be able to affiliate with whatever shoot your idiot alliance it wants to and he says well yes of course. The minutes from the meeting between bush and gorbachev on may 31st recorded this pivotal conversation bush im glad you and i seem to agree that nations can choose their own alliances gorbachev so we will put it this way the us and the u. S. S. R. Are in favor of germany deciding herself in which alliance she would like to participate after a 2 plus 4 settlement bush the United States is unequivocally advocating germanys membership in nato however should germany prefer to make a different choice we will respect it gorbachev i agree. This is a toy or that was the breakthrough of this day or else this guy. Yeah because of the resistance but this was actually the decisive break through all. The us president knew that gorbachev needed to win the election because there were people in the moscow pulled it bureau who opposed his planned course of action to. Make cisterns argued in this underpins the existence of the entire process whether or not go but survived. Thats one of the americans didnt celebrate to publicize this breakthrough at the end of may they still had to wait and see if he would win or most up. Just to give him. The cia report the soviet system in crisis had already warned of a possible coup against gorbachev in november 1909. It said the economic crisis and the independence efforts in various soviet provinces were a great danger there were forces in the kremlin that wanted to stop gorbachev it states the threat of eminent social revolution could prompt a coup that would not only lead to retrenchment but also to political repression more severe than during the pression of years. The 2nd round of 2 plus 4 talks took place in east berlin on the 49th anniversary of germanys invasion of the soviet union during world war 2. During these talks in east berlin sure hausen palace the detente between the former enemies of the cold war was plain to see as the Foreign Ministers were warmly greeted by host marcus mechelle. The public knew nothing of the simmering hostility between the 2 german delegations this loss to lose would this immunity need to communicate soon by june a communication with the with German Foreign office was very bad it just got worse and worse we would completely isolated from these negotiations and just went along for the ride who knows that. Full of false or would you take. It took place to be honest as i was often astonished at how certain members of a west german delegation not all of whom the behavior towards the east german call equals they treated them lately in defeated just like losers who should remain silent theyve who had nothing worth hearing because they no longer had any. You know unity if you know that. At this time east german delegation leader hans youre going miss all of it didnt know about the breakthrough in washington about gorbachevs agreement that a united germany would be a nato member. Of the us i feel the whole trial was only informed that this 3 or 4 weeks later zelic i regularly offered my resignation to marcus mecca it was clear where we stood. But. The public also had little of awareness that the negotiations between the Different Countries were stalling. Does slide the 2nd meeting the east lynne was a downright disaster and the league youve just lost is off if youre your dicta in for the soviet union presented a draft treaty that listed all of its permit positions one by one you have to undergo for this. But the chief of staff in the soviet Foreign Ministry to our sango had given elba a heads up who was comes into the sun to see me it was quite interesting sarah cinco had whispered to me in private dont worry about the next meeting and dont take everything that happens there seriously lose unst bust up a sea that had come from shevardnadze and. It was a tactic to build confidence and tolerance putin the must not. Nato decided to take a major step westerners announced that the soviet union and the warsaw pact military alliance would no longer be enemies of the west but friends a promise made by nato secretary general mon print run out. The cold war the long story is through. Our alliance is moving from confrontation to corporations we have extended the hand of friendship to the warsaw pact and gorbachev said to call that he had seen this as a very important as an Important Message if youre bored. Gorbachev needed this message from the west to appease his opponents within the party the 28th congress of the soviet Unions Communist Party took place in what was then known as the palace of congresss inside the Kremlin Gorbachev defended his policies. Other shows i was worried that he would survive the Party Congress it gorbachev was hounded by both sides during the 10 day congress conservative delegates warned him that his actions would lead to the collapse of the u. S. S. R. And socialism on the other side radical reformers like Boris Yeltsin were calling for a multiparty system and new democratic structures gorbachev spoke openly about the difficult situation to American Ambassador jack matlock. Gorbachev looked at me and he said look try to get your purse to understand this country is on the brink of civil war. Not go in the garage of school. Ive got to prevent. You driving a tiger with great effort gorbachev won the power battle within the party he was reelected with almost 2 thirds of the votes the 2 plus 4 talks could continue in school much of when gorbachev wonder if he had complete freedom to repeat the hold with cold said back in may cole used these to present himself as a hero of International Relations and soon. After. The day after gorbachev victory chancellor kohl and foreign minister visited the kremlin since germanys nato membership had already been agreed upon with the us. The main item on the agenda was financing the withdrawal of soviet troops the us refused to fund the soviet union. A chance for west germany to step up in the public eye the delegation flew out to visit the soviet leader at home in the caucasus cole had asked gorbachev for the visit the chancellor could now announce here that nothing else stood in the way of nato membership. The soviet union received 13000000000. 00 marks for withdrawing their troops from east germany we cant lose sight of the fact that germany was given showing a 1000000000. 00 more. Which was in the incentive in and of itself but so there are plenty of reasons. And the servers were in dire economic straits they needed help. After this meeting in the caucasus the road was now clear for reunification as helmut kohl and others repeatedly announced. But the question of nato membership had already been agreed in secret with president bush who had been waiting to see whether or not gorbachev held on to power coal was simply the one to break the news. To the sea so as we fly back from moscow i think this is a day that collaborates us all its a good day for me and i hope for you as well to germany. Go on to the germany everyone was acting like it was cold to go to go but you have to do that its complete nonsense gorbachev had actually made that decision sometime this fall but we didnt know if i didnt even know that and i was foreign minister was still apparently east germany wasnt needed at that meeting i found that quite arrogant for. The 3rd round of 2 plus 4 talks took place in paris the day after the. Caucus meeting soviet foreign minister shevardnadze confirmed the agreement made between kohl and gorbachev the era of hostile blocs in europe was finally over during this round of negotiations there was another fundamental problem to solve the order nice a border between poland and germany was to finally be recognized under international law. The 6 Foreign Ministers ensured that this demand from poland was met and that germanys x. Journal borders would not extend beyond the federal republic and the g. D. R. The final round of the 2 plus 4 talks took place in moscow where the treaty was to be signed. The Foreign Ministers travelled to moscow the evening before the signing the most yeah it would sign on behalf of east germany but that evening British Foreign minister douglas heard made a startling demand that jeopardized the entire 2 plus 4 treaty falsetto up is that there was a guess thats at the end of the douglas heard started causing trouble the evening before september 12th going to the jurors heads misgivings about the road of the united job in the united germany would have. To look for ways to the european it could not reach if suddenly demanded the troops be placed on cease german territory which russia was absolutely against of course or salutatorian stuck fins on it was important to get that nailed doll in writing and i insisted that it should. This wasnt just an attempt to slow down the process it was an attempt to control the soviet union which knows we didnt agree with the stationing a sort of true list on the just a few hours before a treaty is going to that was is blamed for its failure to reach it was a trick this has happened before in the history of diplomacy was put into diplomats into good bill. Soviet minister shevardnadze told latimer pollen off that he would not sign the treaty under those conditions just moments before the signing in moscow germanys reunification looked set to fail because britain did not want to forego a special right as a victorious power in world war 2. By this point then the soviets are feeling their backs against the wall the germans are feeling you know look you know the british are trying to screw this up. Dieter cost of it started searching for his foreign minister around midnight genscher met him in the Hotel Corridor where kastrup delivered the bad news saying is if you could see straight away from his facial expression that it wasnt good he said hen minister of the negotiations have failed mr bush but the russians have just cancelled tomorrow signings or even go to certain simeon a cause for more games to ensure turns pale and said he needed to see jim baker right away because bush a call was made to the american delegation all because baker had taken a sleeping tablet and drank some whisky he was lying down and couldnt be woken couldnt lift with James Ray Genscher decided to go there himself. Bozos invaded because they so we drove through moscow at night to go in to wake up the u. S. Secretary of state they can listen cantor came down they were on my door sure they walk riad were now really quite groggy and they said the brits want. Their belly to put troops in and the g. D. Are anxious homer and then this because we were right up to the point of signing the treaty and not pick up the phone i think and call douglas shirtless adulteresses says this is a show stopper you know you cant do this week on this for. Diplomats were scrambling for a solution into the early hours eventually the ministers agreed to sign a separate identity that as long as there were still soviet troops on the ground in east germany no non german nato troops would be stationed there but the puter was this was the 1st time in history that germany gained its fool sovereignty not through military victories or defeat. But in agreement with all its neighbors and wishing you good words use of serious weaknesses seek. The treaty that sealed german unity and gave germany back its full state sovereignty contained just 10 items and a separate agenda. For signing of this treaty brought epochal changes it ended the cold war and laid the foundation for a new era of peace freedom and cooperation in europe. Go out and do the time with us i think it was fair to everyone who signed this treaty how important it was we shuffle to office on inside i was doing somersaults i was close to tears with the other about it in. Its by the book not as now i know what mercy wants to show and undeserved if it is real and im still aware that this was the most important signature of my life. But the nato question is still a sore point today were the soviet negotiators negligent or not putting moral promises in writing. Did the west really agree not to expand nato eastward to this day russian president Vladimir Putin still accuses the west of breaking your promise putin is now making me argument that the United States orally promised to serve the union that we would never extend nato that is both ok absolutely. Never were such a promise made if the we are listening these were declarations of ins handbook but they were never recorded in writing you lose so as easily as the west made those promises of your so to did its abandon the consumption and thats why were in the situation were in today as they were the it was a good citizen of the blue to take the floor because its already gullibility good opinion rescue. In 1991 the u. S. S. R. Fragmented into 15 states russia forms a new military alliance with 5 post soviet countries hungry poland and the Czech Republic joined nato in 1990 later followed by 11 more countries friendly relations between russia and the west deteriorated the old rivalry for influence and power led to renewed mistrust and confrontation between the successors of gorbachev and bush. A new cold front has descended. Ryoko future would be that we could turn the clock back to 9091. 00 we ought to start with the idea they were going to exercise some smart diplomacy we are start some confidence Building Measures on both sides. And try to understand the positions from which each side. Its coming. Through trust and Mutual Understanding the cold war ended. The determined diplomatic efforts of the 2 plus 4 nations should serve as inspiration that todays europe can once again find peace. How have 2 sides of the berlin film together can be useful when germany unification. In pop culture. Music. And last but not least in my. 30 years of journey took a shot from the perspective of the people. You go back. To 30 minutes on d w. Board. Literature invites us to see people in particular. I like to see myself as the kids find strength growing up her. Objects or whatever to share with her find beautiful. Delivery books on youtube. This is so no story a stubborn rice farmer from thailand. His problem. His crew got no chemicals. This time was. The students. Dont stand a chance. Training successful. Tucker chatted me starts oct 15th. This is deja vu news live from berlin donald trump sends a message of thanks to well wishers as he begins treatment for coverage 19. I think. Were going to make sure. The u. S. President has been transferred to a Military Hospital after showing symptoms of the disease also coming up germany marks the 30th anniversary of the unification 3 decades have brought a lot of progress but divisions between east and west remain