dodis.ch/52931 Memorandum of conversation1 by the Austrian Foreign Ministry

GDR; Visit of Prime Minister Modrow2 in Austria; Conversation FM3– Foreign Minister Fischer, 26.1.1990

During the work meeting of the Federal Minister with GDR FM Fischer4 on 26 January 1990 the following issues were broached:

1. Bilateral Issues

1.1. Repealing Visa Requirements: The foreign ministers agreed to tentatively repeal the visa requirements from 1 February 1990, 0:00 until 28 February 1990, 24:00. By then, negotiations on a corresponding agreement should be completed, which should come into force on 1 March 1990.

1.2. Repealing Car Tax Liability: Foreign Minister Fischer handed over a note in which the request was put forward again. The note will be transferred to Department III.7 under a separate reference number.

2. International Questions

2.1. Unification of the German States: Foreign Minister Fischer emphasized that it would come to unification; it must be embedded in the overcoming of European division.

2.2. CSCE process: According to Foreign Minister Fischer the negotiations in Vienna are going too slowly (the usual conference mechanism is running rampant). He therefore welcomes the initiative of Genscher5, Dumas6 and de Michelis7. Given the time and effort required for a summit of 35, and the pressing international issues, to the GDR it seems worth considering following directly up in Vienna with “Helsinki II”. The holding of two separate summits in the current year (Signing of the agreements/European discussion) would, anyway, not be advantageous. The Federal Minister emphasized Austria’s interest but referred to the still upcoming interim conference before Helsinki 1991.

2.3. Foreign Minister Fischer spoke positively of Mitterrand’s8 idea of a European confederation.

2.4. The Federal Minister pointed out that Austria’s policy of neutrality is still a part of the credibility of Austrian foreign policy, even if in the light of the international development it no longer has the same weight it once had.