March 9, 1990 – CBS World News Roundup – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
March 9, 1990 – a hopeful day; a day spent working on putting the pieces back together towards a reunified Germany. Leaders of East and West Germany were meeting in East Berlin on this day, looking for a solution and a plan. With just a week before East Germany’s first free elections, the talks were low-key but historic with many anxious spectators. This days meeting was the first step in what would likely be a long diplomatic road under the formula 2+4. The Goal; a unified Germany the rest of the world could live with. On this day it was the 2; east and west German diplomats were preparing for the following week, when they will be joined by the 4 (France, Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union). The idea was for the two Germanys to move towards unity under the encouraging but watchful eye of the wartime victors over Nazi Germany and to work out the military allegiances of the new United German State. One complication already looming; Poland was wanting to join the talks. Polish leaders have said Bonn’s promises that the current border with Poland won’t be touched have not so far been firm enough.
In other news – North Korean strongman Kim Il Sung was reported stepping down on April 15, his 78th birthday, handing over power to his son and long-designated heir Kim Jung Il. The elder Kim would retain some of the power he’s held since 1948.
The situation in Beirut took an ironic turn. After weeks of inter-Christian fighting which had devastated East Beirut and killed more than 800 people, Michel Aoun said it was all a mistake. He said the conflict was over and that he realized violence wasn’t the answer. He called for peace talks with the rival Christian warlord and with Muslim leaders to settle Lebanon’s long civil war.
And Oliver North was expected to take the stand at the Iran-Contra trial of former National Security adviser John Poindexter. North was a government witness, but a reluctant one, not wanting to appear against his former boss.
And that’s just a sample of what went on, this March 9, 1990 as presented by The CBS World News Roundup.
