-Caveat Lector- Bush, Gorbachev Return to Berlin By COLLEEN BARRY .c The Associated Press BERLIN (AP) - Germans are paying homage to former President Bush and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for their roles a decade ago in the demise of the Cold War's most potent symbol, the Berlin Wall. Together with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Bush and Gorbachev orchestrated Germany's unification and the end of the East-West confrontation. The three former world leaders planned to reunite today for an unusual reminiscence of Cold War giants. Berlin also was set to bestow honorary citizenship today on Bush, the only major Western leader who was enthusiastic about German unity. Gorbachev was awarded Germany's highest federal order of merit Sunday night in recognition of his reform policies, which forced East Germany to open the Wall, brought down communism and ended the Cold War. ``If we granted the Soviet Union and other Central and East European countries the right to self-determination, we certainly couldn't withhold that right from the Germans,'' Gorbachev said at the brief ceremony at President Johannes Rau's residence. Kohl, Gorbachev and Bush were to reflect on the events in a roundtable discussion later in the day. All three discussed their perspectives Sunday in the weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Bush recalled how he and Kohl each sought to convince Gorbachev that a united Germany would pose no threat to the Soviet Union, ``rather that it would be a stabilizing factor'' in the new Europe. Gorbachev called German reunification ``a reaction to the will of the people.'' Still, he said, it was only possible ``because the leading statesmen from East and West succeeded to reach agreement on a disarmament treaty and because we were in a position to end the Cold War.'' ``Now, 10 years after we see the world does not appear as we had hoped. Europe is no longer divided, at least not in the old sense of the world, but one cannot call it united by any means,'' Gorbachev wrote. Germans, contemplating a decade of life together in one country, couldn't agree more. There's much evidence of mental barriers, with easterners resenting western arrogance and westerners fed up with huge subsidies to the east. While Germans are looking inward at their problems, some of their neighbors - especially France - are still coming to grips with a united Germany now governed from Berlin and by a generation that lacks Kohl's historical perspective. Kohl, who was voted out of office last year, shared his concern with Welt am Sonntag that the new government may be less focused on traditional ties with France and other European partners. Even so, he said, Europe is on a firm path to tighter integration that started with the end of the Cold War. ``At the end of this century, even with its bitter phases, we are entering the 21st century with the certainty that for us Germans the next century will be one of peace and freedom,'' he said. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
