Germans, WWII Victors Discuss Soviet Pullout
The two Germanys and the four big victors of World War II on Tuesday started putting the final touches on an agreement covering external aspects of German reunification, such as the withdrawal of Soviet troops from East Germany.
The Foreign Ministry officials of the two Germanys and the four Allies--Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States--started the final round of “two-plus-four” negotiations in East Berlin’s Niederschoenhausen Palace on Tuesday morning and said the talks will be held in closed sessions until Friday.
The document they are working on will give Germany full sovereignty and effectively end the postwar occupational rights held by the four allied powers. Berlin was divided among the four after the war.
The draft treaty also lays down “the final character of Germany’s borders”--a formal recognition that Germany has no claim on lands ceded to Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia after World War II.
Sources close to the talks said the negotiators agree on most issues but need to resolve details, including the wording of the document, which will give the two Germanys the final go-ahead for their Oct. 3 merger.
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