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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110020-1


 * 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.

Area Brief

LAND (U/OU)
 * Size: 41,800 sq. mi.
 * Use: 43% arable, 15% meadows and pasture, 27% forests, 15% other.
 * Land boundaries: 1,433 mi.

PEOPLE (U/OU)
 * Population: 17,050,000 (including East Berlin), average annual growth rate 0% (current)
 * Ethnic divisions: 99.7% German, 0.3% Slavic and other
 * Religion: 59% Protestant, 8% Roman Catholic, 33% unaffiliated or other; less than 5% of Protestants and about 25% of Roman Catholics actively participate
 * Language: German, small Sorb (West Slavic) minority
 * Literacy: 99%
 * Labor force: 8.2 million; 36.9% industry; 5.2% handicrafts; 8% construction; 12.5% agriculture; 7.2 transport and communications; 10.9% commerce; 19.3% services and others
 * Organized labor: 88% of total labor force

GOVERNMENT (U/OU)
 * Legal name: German Democratic Republic
 * Type: Communist state
 * Capital: East Berlin (not officially recognized by U.S., U.K., and France, which together with the U.S.S.R. have special rights and responsibilities in Berlin)
 * Political subdivisions: (Excluding East Berlin) 14 districts (Bezirke), 218 counties (Kreise), 8,845 communities (Gemeinden)
 * Legal system: Civil law system modified by Communist legal theory; new constitution adopted 1986 by approx. 95% of the voters in national "referendum"; court system parallels administrative divisions; no judicial review of legislative acts; legal education at Universities of Berlin, Leipzig, Halle and Jens; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; more stringent penal code adopted 1968.
 * Branches: Legislative—Volkskammer (elected directly); executive—Chairman of Council of State, Chairman of Council of Ministers, Cabinet (elected by Volkskammer); judiciary—Supreme Court; entire structure dominated by Socialist Unity (Communist) Party
 * Government leaders: Chairman, Council of State, Walter Ulbricht (Head of State); Chairman, Council of Ministers, Willi Stoph (Head of Government)

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110020-1