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 * June
 * East Germany publicly sides with Arabs in Arab-Israeli War.
 * September
 * West German efforts to broaden and improve contact founders on East German precondition of recognition for GDR.

1968
 * April
 * New constitution replacing outmoded 1949 document adopted in East Germany's first popular referendum.
 * March-June
 * East Germany bans travel to and from West Berlin by members of NPD, West Germany's ultrarightist party. In April, ban broadened to include senior officials of West German Government. In June, People's Chamber announces passport and visa requirements for all West Germans and West Berliners.
 * August
 * Occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact forces, including East German troops, followed by crackdown at home on liberals sympathetic to Dubcek government.

1969
 * March
 * West German presidential election held in West Berlin; arouses ire of East German and Soviet Governments but no incidents result.
 * April
 * Recognition of East Germany by Iraq, first non-Communist country to do so, opens door to recognition by number of other Afro-Asian states.
 * September
 * Advent of West German Government led by Social Democratic Party's Willy Brandt renews effort to normalize relations with Soviet Union, GDR, and other Communist neighbors.
 * Soviets reply positively to notes from Allied partners seeking cooperation in reducing Berlin tensions.
 * October
 * Delegations from 84 countries attend 20th anniversary celebrations in East Germany; divergences between East Germany and its allies over policy toward West Germany dominate speeches by most Eastern European leaders.
 * December
 * U.S.S.R. begins talks with West Germany on renunciation of threat or use of force in any conflict.

1970
 * March and May
 * Prime Minister Stoph and West German Chancellor Brandt meet in Erfurt and Kassel but fail to agree on basis for improving relations.
 * March
 * First Four-Power talks in 11 years discuss Berlin problems.
 * August
 * Soviet Union and West Germany sign treaty renouncing use of force and accepting all postwar European boundaries. Four-Power rights in Berlin and Germany not affected. (West Germany signs same agreement with Poland in December.)
 * 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.

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