Word: kohl
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...longer an adversary, thus paving the way for Gorbachev to drop his reluctance to let a united Germany join the alliance. Nonetheless, the swiftness and scope of last week's pact stunned and slightly discomfited the Western allies. George Bush and Secretary of State James Baker, strong supporters of Kohl and his unity efforts, were embarrassed at being taken unawares. Baker's flustered response: "This is a delightful surprise to the extent that it's a surprise, and it's only a surprise to the extent that we anticipated." Bush pointed out that he had long advocated a unified Germany...
...measure of the skillful diplomat Kohl, 60, has become that he quickly praised Bush for all his efforts, saying, "Our American friends can rely on it that we are going this way in close cooperation and partnership with them." The German leader has always been the consummate local pol, more at ease hoisting a glass in the local wine cellar than sitting in chandeliered rooms stiffly exchanging diplomatic niceties with foreign leaders. But over the past year, as Kohl realized that he had the historic opportunity to bring his country together again, he rose to the challenge better than many...
...Kohl accomplished his diplomatic feats by relying on the same skills that have put him on warm terms with a number of world leaders. He started out badly with Gorbachev in 1986, comparing the Soviet leader's public relations talents with those of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. When Kohl met with Gorbachev in Moscow last February, the two were civil to each other, nothing more. This time Kohl asked if part of his trip could be spent in Gorbachev's home region of Stavropol and the nearby spas, where the two leaders might relax and get to know each...
Though the ground for last week's pact had been prepared in six meetings between foreign ministers Eduard Shevardnadze and Hans-Dietrich Genscher over the past two months, Kohl had no reason to expect Gorbachev would agree so quickly. The Soviet leader clearly wanted to settle the issue of German unification so he could move on to his country's domestic problems. But the atmosphere surely helped. By the time they made their announcement, the two men were laughing together. Observes a Western diplomat in Moscow: "It may come as a surprise, but Kohl and Gorbachev kind of like each...
Soviet officials insisted it was not just Kohl's sincerity that carried the day. "The Kohl of 1990 is not the Kohl of 1986," said Vladimir Shenayev, deputy director of Moscow's Institute of Europe. "Even a year ago, Kohl would have said that a unified Germany would be a member of NATO and there was no point in discussing it. Now he's showing an ability to compromise." The promise of financial aid helped: having already pledged some $3 billion in credits to Moscow, Kohl agreed to sign a comprehensive economic pact with the Soviet Union...