[Mohoender]

The movement toward democracy in the Eastern Bloc continues and the movement initiated outside of Russia still spreads to USSR. In May, the New Armenian Army (NAA) is established and clashes soon brake out with Soviet Internal Security Forces (MVD) troops based in Yerevan. In March, Lithuania had been the first Baltic Republic to declare sovereignty and the Kremlin favors negociations. By June, the Supreme Soviet of USSR officially surrenders national sovereignty to the Baltic Republics while still ruling Lithuania’s declarations of independence to be invalid. Meanwhile, Lukyanov, taking over Gorbachev’s former project, attempts to reassert control over the other republics by negociating a new union treaty that should refound USSR. Largely criticized in the western republics it generates more interests in the East as the New Perestroika is showing its first sign of success with an economic situation improving slightly by February. Moreover, when Chinese Prime-minister Li Peng comes to Moscow in an official visit, on April 1990, he receives a warm welcome. Both Li Peng and Lukyanov agree to meet again next year to finally resolve the various tensions that had plagued their countries relations for a little over two decades.

In Eastern Europe, the movement toward freedom accelerates and the year starts with people storming the Stasi HQ in East Germany. Soon after, the Soviet Union agrees to withdraw all its troops from Czechoslovakia. This movement culminates with the reunification of Germany becoming reality in October. A month later, Germany and Poland reach an agreement over their border dispute and the German-Polish Border Treaty is signed by both countries Foreign Ministers. Officialy, the newly united Germany renounces any territorial claims outside of its post-WWII boundaries, but asserts continued interest in the welfare of ethnic Germans living outside of Germany. Membership in German ethnic organizations in western Poland grows, particularly in Silesia. By the end of the year, following that of Czechoslovakia, soviet troop withdrawals are under way from Germany, Poland and Hungary. This initiates the major reorganization of the Red Army as it is confirmed that many acitive units will be turned into armament storage base.

As this happens, major talks on arms control are conducted between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Two treaties are signed reducing the production of chemical weapons (The Chemical Weapon Accord signed on June 1) and limiting the number of military units in Europe (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe signed on November 22). This strengthen the political position of Lukyanov and releases part of the tensions that had grown over the past years. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, the only major events take place in UK where the governement faces unrest and violent opposition to the poll tax. This intended tax system is abandonned after the fall of Margret Thatcher which resigns from office in November. Meanwhile, it has to be noted that the IRA had launched an increasing number of attacks toward Britain.

In the Middle-East, the year begins with the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen unifying and becoming the Republic of Yemen. Later, Iraq stuns the West by invading Kuwait in August. To most surprise, the Soviet Union joins efforts with the USA as the world rallies behind US leadership in resisting Iraqi aggression. Troops from three dozen countries, including USSR and others still formally members of the Warsaw Pact, pour into Saudi Arabia. Then, while the world is occupied with Iraq, Syria achieves victory over Aoun and takes control of Lebanon.

Elsewhere in the world, a few significant events take place. The Indian withwrawal from Sri Lanka open the gates to a revival of the Civil War and violence increase again. A coalition of opposition parties headed by Violetta Chamorro is defeated by Daniel Ortega's bid for re-election in Nicaragua. Sandinistas are strongly reinforced by this result and the Contras are forced back into insurgency. Finally, In Africa, F.W. de Klerk legalise the ANC and frees Nelson Mandela, starting a process intended to end the Apartheid. Two meetings between the government and the ANC took place and both were successful in laying down the preconditions for negotiations despite the considerable tensions still abounding within the country.