About Egon Bahr
Egon Karl-Heinz Bahr (German pronunciation: [ˈeːɡɔn kaʁlˈhaɪnts ˈbaːɐ̯]; 18 March 1922 – 19 August 2015) was a German SPD politician. The former journalist was the creator of the Ostpolitik promoted by West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, for whom he served as Secretary of State in the German Chancellery from 1969 until 1972. Between 1972 and 1990 he was an MP in the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany and from 1972 until 1976 was also a Minister of the Federal Government. Bahr was a key figure in multiple negotiation sessions between not only East and West Germany, but also West Germany and the Soviet Union. In addition to his instrumental role in Ostpolitik, Bahr was also an influential voice in negotiating the Treaty of Moscow, the Treaty of Warsaw, the Transit Treaty of 1971, and the Basic Treaty of 1972. And since one could not get travel visas Bonn or America or Moscow, one had to negotiate with those who were authorized to give them out." In 1973, Bahr was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz ("Federal Cross of Merit"). This unauthorized publication became known as the "Bahr Paper". In 1980, Bahr became a member of the Independent Commission for Disarmament and Security under the chairmanship of Swedish politician Olof Palme.
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