Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

297. Telegram From Secretary of State Shultz to the Department of State and the Embassy in the German Democratic Republic¹

Secto 15051.

New York, September 30, 1987, 0813Z

SUBJECT

• UNGA: Secretary’s Bilateral With GDR Foreign Minister Fischer.

1. Secret—Entire text.

2. Summary. During September 23 meeting with the Secretary, GDR Foreign Minister expressed hope that improved US-Soviet relationship stemming from the Shultz-Shevardnadze meetings² would lead to further progress in relations between the US and East Germany. The Secretary responded that we share this hope, but that progress will be determined basically by movement toward solution of specific problems. The Secretary specifically cited movement on claims issues, as well as human rights cases, real dialogue on terrorism and modification of East German behavior in Third World hot spots as examples of the types of issues on which we want to see movement. Fischer said he hoped that US would provide its comments on latest GDR trade list in time for visit to East Berlin by Deputy Secretary Whitehead in early November. End summary.

3. The Secretary opened the conversation by noting that it took place in the aftermath of the Honecker visit to the FRG, an event which had attracted a lot of media attention. Fischer replied that this attention was deserved. He congratulated the Secretary on the results of the meetings with Shevardnadze, and expressed hope these results would be implemented. If this occurred, the US-Soviet talks the previous week will be seen as a historical turning point. In a lengthy recital, Fischer stressed how the Honecker visit would contribute to the same process of strengthening peace and promoting disarmament. He wished the Secretary all the best in his upcoming trip to Moscow.³

4. The Secretary thanked Fischer for his wishes and said he wanted to speak about US-GDR bilateral relations. When he and Fischer had last met three years ago,⁴ we had seen opportunities for making progress through solving specific problems. Since then we have made some progress on these bilateral problems, but much remains to be done. He said we are ready to continue to work with the GDR and noted that we were having a series of high level contacts in which these matters were being discussed. GDR Deputy Foreign Minister Nier had visted Washington in the spring for consultations;⁵ Assistant Secretary Ridgway had been in East Berlin in July;⁶ finally, Deputy Secretary Whitehead would travel to the GDR in early November.⁷

5. The Secretary noted that there were a number of positive developments in the GDR which we welcome:

— Over one million GDR citizens under pension age were being allowed to visit the West this year;

— The GDR had permitted the reestablishment of a rabbinate in East Berlin, which we see as welcome evidence of religious tolerance;

— Movement had occurred in the inner-German relationship, a development which we support;

— The handing over of an informal paper on US-GDR relations to Assistant Secretary Ridgway during her July visit;⁸ we will shortly be providing our reactions to this paper.

6. The Secretary added that we must also speak about the problems that burden the relationship:

— Human rights. We have raised this problem before, and the GDR has taken action on some issues, but as a general matter the problem remains. We have given the GDR lists of family reunification and binational marriage cases which we request be resolved and will hand over a new list.

— Jessa family. This was a specific family reunification case. The family had applied to emigrate in December 1986 and has a brother living in Chicago. In August of this year the family was refused permission to emigrate and no reason for the refusal was given. (On this case Fischer asked for specifics in writing and promised to look into what could be done, noting that he had been able to resolve a similar case following his last meeting with the Secretary. This information is being provided to his staff; a comprehensive list of current permanent family reunification and binational marriage cases will be provided to the GDR at an early date.)

— Claims and trade. We want to move in parallel on these issues. We are disappointed by the absence of progress on official claims. On Jewish claims, we were encouraged by Rabbi Miller’s report of his recent conversation with Fischer.⁹ It appears that a solution to this problem may be in sight. We would be very pleased by such a development. For our part, we are reviewing the GDR’s latest trade list on an expeditious basis and will inform the East Germans when the review is finished. Fischer stressed the importance of receiving the U.S. comments on the trade list prior to Deputy Secretary Whitehead’s arrival in early November.

— Terrorism. This is one of a broad range of issues on which we wish to engage the GDR. Presently there is not much dialogue and the GDR needs to decide whether it wants to work with us on this major international problem. Fischer replied that this is one of the eight points covered in the paper the GDR gave the US in July. The GDR is as ready to discuss terrorism with us as it is on such topics as drug abuse and AIDS.

7. Returning to the theme of East-West relations, the Secretary said he sees an interplay between the development of ties between the US and the Soviet Union and the evolution of relations between the US and East Germany. This interplay can work in both directions. If we solve problems with the Soviets, this will help create more favorable conditions for moving the US-GDR relationship along; conversely, progress in solving US-East German relations has favorable side effects in our work with the Soviets. Fischer responded stiffly that the US must recognize that progress in bilateral US-GDR relations will necessarily take place against the background of each country’s membership in its respective alliance. If this is understood, realistic progress is possible.

8. The Secretary asked Fischer for his assessment of Gorbachev’s reform program in the Soviet Union. Fischer said his government finds developments in the USSR to be positive, and he recalled that Honecker had wished Gorbachev well with his program. The GDR has no worries concerning developments in the USSR. He added that each country must conduct its affairs on the basis of its own realities. In the Soviet parliament, for example, there are only two groups—party members and non-members. On the other hand, in the GDR there are 5 parties and 10 factions in the Volkskammer. Implying that the GDR has been practicing glasnost for a long time, Fischer said the proceedings and reports of the Central Committee have been published since the early 1970’s.

9. In a final exchange, the Secretary said we would provide the GDR with our comments on their trade list prior to Deputy Secretary Whitehead’s November visit. Fischer welcomed this comment and said we need to move from discussion of issues to concrete accomplishments. He said he wished to add a point to the eight points that had been covered in the informal paper given to Assistant Secretary Ridgway in July. This was that parliamentary exchanges should be held on a regular basis. He hoped, for example, that the foreign affairs committees of the respective parliaments could visit each other.

10. Comment: Fischer clearly seemed to be hoping that the Secretary would respond to his rosy description of prospects for bilateral relations in a similar vein. He appeared somewhat taken aback by the Secretary’s sober and businesslike emphasis on tangible progress on a broad range of issues. In a comment to the EUR/CE Country Director following meeting with the Secretary, Fischer stressed the importance of getting US comments on the trade list as the key to settlement of Jewish claims. He heatedly exclaimed: “We won’t give anything in exchange for no action on your side.” End comment.

11. Fischer was accompanied at meeting by Washington Ambassador Herder, PermRep Ott, Chief of Cabinet Niklas, and an interpreter. On US side were Assistant Secretary Ridgway, Assistant Secretary Redman, and EUR/CE Director Shostal, and an interpreter.

Shultz

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870804–0820. Secret; Immediate. Sent Immediate for information to Bonn and West Berlin.
2. The meeting took place on September 24. See Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. VI, Soviet Union, October 1986–January 1989, Document 78.
3. October 22–23.
4. See Document 274.
5. April 17.
6. July 23–25. Telegram 2781 from East Berlin, July 28, conveyed to the Department the draft reporting cables from Ridgway’s visit. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870598–0750)
7. November 10–11.
8. The non-paper addressing the broadening of bilateral relations was transmitted to the Department of State on August 5 from East Berlin in telegram 3035. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870630–0266)
9. Not found.