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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3


 * December
 * Ulbricht criticized for economic planning failures at 14th Central Committee plenum.

1971
 * May
 * Erich Honecker replaces Ulbricht as SED First Secretary.
 * June
 * Honecker's opening speech at Eighth Party Congress ratifying his accession indicates he would settle for less than full diplomatic recognition by West Germany; wishes success to Four-Power negotiations on Berlin.
 * September
 * Four-Power Agreement on Berlin initiated (signed in June 1972). Berlin remains under quadripartite authority with reduced political ties to West Germany; Soviet Union guarantees unimpeded access to West Berlin through East Germany. East-West German negotiations begin on supplementary agreements.
 * October
 * Major ideological speech to social scientists explicitly rejects Ulbricht's favorite themes.

1972
 * April
 * General Traffic Agremeent reached with Bonn in April (signed in May); covers transport of goods, travel of West Germans to East Germany virtually unrestricted, only emergency travel allowed to East Germans.
 * Fifth Central Committee plenum adopts package of social legislation, granting additional benefits in pensions, rent and family assistance allotments.
 * June
 * Four-Power Agreement on Berlin is signed; discussions begin with Federal Republic on general treaty.
 * October
 * Government reorganization places greater power in hands of ministers at expense of advisory commissions, according to Honecker's dictates.
 * November
 * Agreement reached on general German treaty designed to end 25 years of Cold War hostility; states pledge to refrain from use of force, respect common border, recognize sovereignty of each state in internal and external affairs, left open question of reunification.
 * East Germany becomes member of UNESCO and is granted observer status at U.N.
 * Regime hails reelection of Brandt coalition in West German parliamentary election, implicitly taking some credit for victory.

1973
 * January
 * East and West Germany accorded equal representation at Helsinki preparatory talks for Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
 * By end of January, 67 states had established diplomatic relations with East Germany, 34 since 7 December 1972.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110019-3