Erich Honecker visits the Federal Republic of Germany

East-West relations stand at a low point in the middle 1980s. The basic causes are the deployment (after 1977) of Soviet medium-range SS-20 missiles aimed at Western Europe, the consequent rearmament of NATO with comparable weapons systems, and the invasion of neutral Afghanistan by Soviet troops in December, 1979.

The Christian-Liberal Coalition under Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl accepts the East and German policies of Willy Brandt and his successor Helmut Schmidt. Against this background, both German states attempt to continue their dialog and to reach additional mutually advantageous agreements, despite international tensions. The Kohl/Genscher administration wants to continue Brandt's policy of "small steps" and calls for such measures as the pairing of Eastern and Western cities. This is intended to strengthen personal contacts within divided Germany and to sustain the popular awareness of the unity of the nation.  

Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Erich Honecker

©Bundesbildstelle

In September 1987 the Chairman of the DDR, Erich Honecker visits the Federal Republic of Germany. Chancellor Kohl receives Honnecker with full protocol honors as a Chief of State. The state visit demonstrates that the Federal Republic recognizes the DDR as an equal sovereign state. However, Chancellor Kohl also demonstrates during the visit that the Federal Republic maintains the goal of contributing to a peaceful Europe in which the German people can regain their unity through free self-determination.