Mikhail Gorbachev: statement about the annexation of the GDR nonsense

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has called the proposal a number of deputies of the state Duma to make a statement about the annexation of the GDR nonsense. In his words, to assess the events of a quarter-century ago, given the present realities, it is impossible.

"Not the position today to evaluate something that was in another era, in another time, 25 years ago. What kind of referendum in the GDR could be discussed if two countries both in the GDR and FRG - went statystyczny rallies with a single slogan: "We are one people!". No one denied and deny it impossible, so no one even had no idea to hold a referendum," he said to.

To call the recent annexation, according to Gorbachev, impossible. "What is annexation? About this question. Not accidentally, the most popular at that time in Germany was the book "the sheltering sky". It's about Germany. So the proposal to adopt the statement about the annexation of the GDR by the FRG is just nonsense - says the former President, once again I will say: it is impossible to simplify the situation, on the basis of the present day, on the basis of today's views, to assess the past".

Earlier media reported that the state Duma Committee on international Affairs is ready to discuss the preparation of the statement, condemning the annexation of East Germany. The idea became a member of the Communist party Nikolai Ivanov, who proposed such a step in response to the condemnation of the PACE of the Russian position in the Crimea, "The more so because, unlike the Crimea, in the GDR national referendum has not been carried out".