2.7
Growing International Prestige
ostpolitik gave the GDR international recognition
1973 admitted to the UN
1974 had diplomatic relations with over 80 countries.
The Helsinki Accords
signed in 1975 between 35 countries, including the USA and USSR and aimed at reducing tensions between them
Basket 1
Basket 3
Basket 2
Basket 4
settle disputes peacefully, acceptance of existing boundaries
scientific and technological co-operation
free migration of peoples and reunification of people divided by international borders
continue to review and monitor the proposals
Travel Restrictions
from 1964 onwards, the gdr allowed old-age pensioner to visit west berlin
this was because the SED was not concerned if they did not return as pensioners were not considered economically productive
in 1971, telephone lines were resumed
if an individual failed to return to the GDR after getting a permit, their family would be subject to stasi interrogations
State Visits
the first official state visit by ulbricht was to egypt in 1965 which helped to improve international recognition
Honecker visited belgium, spain. austria, italy, sweden and france
UK and USA refused to invite Honecker
more recognised
Relationship with the Warsaw Pact Countries
Ulbricht signed bilateral treaties of friendship with Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria in 1967
however, the GDR focused more on the West and Ostpolitik than the Eastern Bloc