Treaty of Moscow (1970)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Moscow, was signed on August 12, 1970 between the USSR and West Germany
(FRG). It was signed by Willy Brandt
and Walter Scheel
from the FRG side and by Alexei Kosygin and Andrei Gromyko
from the USSR side.
was Chancellor of the FRG, the FRG followed a foreign relations policy of Ostpolitik
. The FRG "abandoned, at least for the time being, its claims with respect to German self-determination and reunification, recognising de facto the existence of the German Democratic Republic
(GDR) and the Oder-Neisse Line
." The Treaty of Moscow was the first of several friendship treaties between the FRG and the GDR.
Both sides expressed their ambition to strive for a normalization of the relations between the European states while keeping international peace and to follow the guidelines of the article no.2 of the UN Charter.
The signees renounced the use of force, and recognised the post-WWII
borders — specifically the Oder-Neisse Line which hived off a large portion of historical eastern Germany
to Poland
and the USSR.
It also enshrined the division between East and West Germany, thus contributing a valuable element of stability into the relationship between the two countries.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
(FRG). It was signed by Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
and Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel
Walter Scheel is a German politician . He served as Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development from 1961 to 1966, Foreign Minister of Germany and Vice Chancellor from 1969 to 1974, acting Chancellor of Germany from 7 May to 16 May 1974 , and finally as President of the Federal...
from the FRG side and by Alexei Kosygin and Andrei Gromyko
Andrei Gromyko
Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko was a Soviet statesman during the Cold War. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet . Gromyko was responsible for many top decisions on Soviet foreign policy until he retired in 1987. In the West he was given the...
from the USSR side.
Description
During the 1970s while Willy BrandtWilly Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
was Chancellor of the FRG, the FRG followed a foreign relations policy of Ostpolitik
Ostpolitik
Neue Ostpolitik , or Ostpolitik for short, refers to the normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and Eastern Europe, particularly the German Democratic Republic beginning in 1969...
. The FRG "abandoned, at least for the time being, its claims with respect to German self-determination and reunification, recognising de facto the existence of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR) and the Oder-Neisse Line
Oder-Neisse line
The Oder–Neisse line is the border between Germany and Poland which was drawn in the aftermath of World War II. The line is formed primarily by the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers, and meets the Baltic Sea west of the seaport cities of Szczecin and Świnoujście...
." The Treaty of Moscow was the first of several friendship treaties between the FRG and the GDR.
Both sides expressed their ambition to strive for a normalization of the relations between the European states while keeping international peace and to follow the guidelines of the article no.2 of the UN Charter.
The signees renounced the use of force, and recognised the post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
borders — specifically the Oder-Neisse Line which hived off a large portion of historical eastern Germany
Historical Eastern Germany
The former eastern territories of Germany are those provinces or regions east of the current eastern border of Germany which were lost by Germany during and after the two world wars. These territories include the Province of Posen and East Prussia, Farther Pomerania, East Brandenburg and Lower...
to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and the USSR.
It also enshrined the division between East and West Germany, thus contributing a valuable element of stability into the relationship between the two countries.
See also
- There have been several other treaties known as the Treaty of MoscowTreaty of MoscowThe Treaty of Moscow may refer to:*Treaty of Moscow , a treaty of non-aggression between Soviet Russia and Georgia*Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty also known as Moscow Peace Treaty, a treaty between the Soviet Russia and Lithuania...
- Treaty of WarsawTreaty of Warsaw (1970)The Treaty of Warsaw was a treaty between West Germany and the People's Republic of Poland. It was signed by Chancellor Willy Brandt and Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz at the Presidential Palace on 7 December 1970, and it was ratified by the German Bundestag on 17 May 1972.In the treaty, both...
from December 7, 1970 - Four-Power Agreement from September 3, 1971
- Basic TreatyBasic Treaty (1972)The Basic Treaty is the short-hand name for the Treaty concerning the basis of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic...
from December 21, 1972
Further reading
- Notes of reply from the three Western Powers (11 August 1970) reterived from the European NAvigatorEuropean NAvigatorEuropean NAvigator was the former name of the digital library on the history of European integration and related institutions. The research project is now online at www.cvce.eu, a website dedicated to European integration studies....
- Pierre, Andrew J. The Bonn-Moscow Treaty of 1970: Milestone or Mirage? Russian Review, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan., 1971), pp. 17-26
- Фалин В. М. Без скидок на обстоятельства: Политические воспоминания. — М.: Республика: Современник, 1999. — 463 с.: ил. ISBN 5—250—02673—7