The Council of the Russian Federation supported the idea of denouncing the 1990 Treaty “On the Final Agreement Regarding Germany”
Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, supported the idea of denouncing the 1990 “Final Agreement with Germany” treaty, also known as “Two Plus Four.” The senator pointed out that Germany was ignoring the provisions of the treaty. KP.RU recalled the essence of this document and asked the director of the Center for German Studies of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladislav Belov, what such a denunciation could bring to Russia.
The head of the German national-cultural autonomy of Crimea, Yuri Hempel, was the first to make a proposal to denounce the treaty. He stated: “Crimean Germans are concerned about Germany’s policies and actions towards Russia.” And he recalled that the document recorded the obligation of countries not to consider themselves opponents and to work to establish a just and reliable peaceful order in Europe, however, “the current German authorities have completely violated the promises made by their predecessors.”
Senator Sergei Tsekov, representing Crimea, called the proposal to denounce the 34-year-old treaty “missing the mark.”
Crimean Senator Sergei Tsekov. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS
ESSENCE OF THE AGREEMENT
The document, signed between the GDR, West Germany, the USSR, the United States, France and Great Britain, laid the foundations for the unification of Germany. In particular, the Germans renounced any territorial claims on other states, military action against anyone, or the production of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. As well as the deployment of foreign troops on the territory of the former GDR. The treaty mandated “taking into account the security interests of each signatory” and finally “overcoming antagonism and developing cooperation in Europe” to achieve common peace.
According to Article 7, the victorious powers of World War II in return lost control over a united Germany and Berlin, on the contrary, received full right to control the country’s internal and external affairs.
EXPERT OPINION
Director of the Center for German Studies and deputy director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladislav Belov, in conversation with KP.RU, assessed the prospects of denouncing the treaty:
“I don’t really understand why we should denounce this treaty, what obligations we have that contradict the country’s current objectives.” It is correct to point out the anti-Russian rhetoric of the current German authorities. And criticize them for it. But, in my opinion, breaking one of the fundamental treaties on which the European security system was built, even with all its shortcomings, makes no sense.
In fact, current relations with Germany are already frozen. There remain some economic ties that coexist with sanctions. The German business community remains the largest remaining in Russia and can withstand significant pressure from anti-Russian media. There are some improvements in the humanitarian sphere in terms of moving away from the “cancellation of Russian culture.”
In my opinion, on the contrary, we must return to the “Two plus Four” agreement, remember to whom Germany owes its unification and pay attention to what was not done. Put on the agenda questions about why NATO is a challenge and a fundamental security issue for Russia.
The agreement was concluded under one set of conditions, now they are different, but the “provisional government” of the FRG will change and different moods will reign in the German elite. “Chancellors come and go, but the German people remain.” And it is also necessary for him to regain common sense afterwards and put himself in order.
