<<The international conference on the 20th anniversary
of the end of the Cold War>>
( scheduled on 22 November 2009) Leaflet（PDF）
From the opening the Iron Curtain (Pan-European Picnic)
to the collapse of the Berlin Wall
- Signs of regional integration towards "One Europe" -
- Behind the scenes of the Hungarian-German secret agreement -
Why the Iron Curtain was removed?
Why the collapse of the Berlin Wall happened?
How Liberalized Eastern Europe in 1989?
What is the 20-year track after the end of Cold War?
Are people really liberated?
A human drama was unfolding before our eyes towards the end of the Cold
War in 1989, far beyond the compromise between Bush and Gorbachev at the
summit in Malta, leading to demolish the Iron Curtain and break the Berlin Wall in a great stream of liberating people living in the former communist
states.
Such an epoch-making event began in Sopron, a small beautiful town on the Austrian-Hungarian border on 19 August
1989. Many East Germans came and wanted to flee into the west, and their
hope for liberation changed the half century of the Cold War, demolished
the Iron Curtain and broke the Berlin Wall, which made a solid base of
Europe’s integration and development after the Cold War.
This autumn, on the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold War,
we will clarify the policy-making process among politicians and people during the time with collaboration of the German, Austrian and Hungarian
embassies and Japanese universities. With researcher’s objectiveness, we
will also analyse what were actually brought for European citizens during
the 20 years of the post-Cold War period. Such analysis will be then put
into perspective of the present time when we have experienced the international
financial crisis, often said as once for a hundred years.
Following points will be explained by key policy-makers invited from the
countries involved in the demolition of the Iron Curtain and the collapse
of the Berlin Wall towards the end of the Cold War, Facts will be re-examined and historical
significance will be reconsidered for re-interpretation on the 20th anniversary
of the end of the Cold War.
The investigation of the end of Cold War and the discussion of the demolition
of the iron curtain and the Berlin Wall, means a big and important subject for Japanese and Asians, too. Because
it is generally said, “In Asia, the Cold War didn’t end yet.”.
We would like to investigate that point, too. What is the difference between the Europe and Japan/Asia, on the realization
or perception of the end of the Cold War.
1. Why and how did the end of the Cold War cause in 1989?
Facts and Decision Making
We will discuss the causes of integration and fragmentation of Europe in
the scene of international politics led by the US and the Soviet Union
since 1945.
2. Why did Hungary plan the Pan-European Picnic to lift the Iron Curtain,
and how it led to the demolition of the Iron Curtain and the collapse of
the Berlin Wall? :
We will argue the position and role of Hungary as a Central European state
in Europe.
3. What were the policies to cope with the communist states in Eastern Europe
in drastic change? What were attempts to rewrite history?
(i) Germany, as a member state of the EU and NATO,
(ii) Austria, as a Neutral State
(iii) Hungary, and Poland as a Communists state to Liberty
We will verify both cases with testimonies by politicians of the era, historical
records and research literature.
4. Which direction for Europe on the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold
War, in global economic hardship caused by the recent international financial
crisis and in the new era of the Obama administration in the US? How about
Japan?
Effect to Japan, Asia, and the World.
We will examine the positions and roles of Germany, Austria Hungary and
Poland with collaboration of researchers from these countries and from
Japan.
The 20th Anniversary of the End of the Cold War:
Lectures of Historical Decision Makers: on 22, November,
International Conference room, 12 floor of Soken Bldg. at Aoyama Gakuin
University
(Draft)
Conference will be invited the following persons: (interim)
１．Hungary: NEMETH, Miklos (former Hungarian Prime Minister)
２．Austria: VRANITZKY, Franz (former Austrian Prime Minister)
３．Germany：LENGSFELD, Vera (NGO:pro-democracy activist and politician)
４．Poland: STANISKIS, Jadwiga (Solidalinosti, Professor of Warsaw University)
Schedule(Interium)
9:30-12:00
Greeting Speech
From Japanese Foreign Ministry and Japanese Government
Speeches by Historical Decision Makers: each 20-30 minutes
Nemeth, Miklos (former Hungarian Prime Minister)
Decision making process to open the Iron Curtain
Vranitzky, Franz (former Austrian Prime Minister)
How opened the Iron Curtain and its effect
Lensfeld, Vera (NGO, pro-democracy activist and Politician)
Pan European Picnic Plan and the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Staniskis, Jadwiga (Solidalinosti, Professor of Warsaw University)
Polish Role to Liberation and the Collapse of the Socialist
System in Central and Eastern Europe
Lunch, (12:00-14:00)
14:00-15:30
Panel Discussion by Decision Makers
Chaired by Prof. Kumiko Haba(Aoyama Gakuin) and
Asahi Shimbun:
15:30-16:00
Question and Answer from the floor
Reception (17:00-19:00) by Aoyama Gakiuin and the EU Delegation
We will publish a Proceedings of Speeches of International Conference
by Decision Makers, and Documents.
Organizers:
Aoyama Gakuin 135th Years Anniversary of Foundation
Hungarian Embassy,
Austrian Embassy,
German Embassy,
Polish Embassy
Kumiko Haba (Aoyama Gakuin University)
Yuichi Morii (DESK, University of Tokyo)
Asahi Shimbun,
Collaboration:
EU Delegation,
Japanese Foreign Ministry,
Japan-Hungarian Friendship Association
(President; Yohei Kono, Director, Yoshitomo Tanaka)
This Conference of the End of the Cold War, by Decision Makers
will be continued by:.
Part II:
The Conference of Europe and Asia: The End of the Cold War and the Regional
Cooperation: (by the CHIR: Committee of History of International Relations)
in Tokyo, Japan:
on 5-6 December; Academic Research Conference at Aoyama Gakuin University