German magazine
Der Spiegel on Friday < ---source
Newly discovered document proves existence of pledge not to expand NATO eastward towards Russia, proving Moscow right
www.rt.com
The minutes of a March 6, 1991 meeting in Bonn between political directors of the foreign ministries of the US, UK, France, and Germany contain multiple references to
“2+4” talks on German unification in which the Western officials made it
“clear” to the Soviet Union that NATO would not push into territory east of Germany.
“We made it clear to the Soviet Union – in the 2+4 talks, as well as in other negotiations – that we do not intend to benefit from the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Eastern Europe,” the document quotes
US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Canada Raymond Seitz.
“NATO should not expand to the east, either officially or unofficially,” Seitz added.
A British representative also mentions the existence of a
“general agreement” that membership of NATO for eastern European countries is
“unacceptable.”
“We had made it clear during the 2+4 negotiations that we would not extend NATO beyond the Elbe [sic],” said
West German diplomat Juergen Hrobog.
“We could not therefore offer Poland and others membership in NATO.”