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Under the leadership of president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is readmitted to the Arab League. Mubarak tries to maintain ties with the United States, at the same time placating the other Arab countries. Israel returns the last portion of the Sinai that it held to Egypt.
The Hungarian Communist party votes to dissolve itself. The government provides for a democratic multiparty system. The People's Republic of Hungary is changed to the Republic of Hungary.
Gorbachev replaces the no-choice ballots with competitive elections that allow the voter to choose from a variety of candidates. In March, the first openly contested elections since 1917 are held.
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev visits Beijing to end the 30-year rift between the Soviet Union and China.
Students march in the capital to ask for freedom of the press, educational reforms, and an end to political corruption. This prodemocracy demostration in Beijing turns bloody when the protestors are killed and injured by government troops after refusing to leave the square.
After Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, reforms become possible in Poland. The Solidarity Union is revived. In the 1989 elections, Solidarity wins 99 of the 100 Senate seats. The Communist party in Poland admits defeat.
Tadeusz Mazowiecki becomes Poland's first non-Communist premier in more than 40 years. He dismantles the Communist system and brings the country into democracy.
As the Cold War ends, the Soviet Union decreases economic aid to Cambodia. Vietnam withdraws its troops from Cambodia.
Erich Honecker, the first secretary of the ruling party in East Germany, resigns. This comes after a series of antigovernment demonstrations led by the newly formed independent group - New Forum. Honecker is taken over by Egon Krenz, who legalises and begins dialogue with New Forum.
The "Velvet Revolution", a bloodless overthrow of the Czechoslovakian Communist regime, takes place. The Civic Forum party is established as the official spokesman of the people. They ask for the resignation of the Communist government and the release of political prisoners. In response, the Communist party leaders step down. In December a new government takes over.
The wall that divided East and West Germany falls down. Hundreds of thousands of East Germans stream into West Berlin to visit without restrictions. The West German government provides aid to the people in East Germany.
The entire membership of the council of ministers in East Germany resign. This follows after large-scale demonstrations in East Berlin. The new government promises to introduce political and economic reforms, and to hold free elections in 1990.
Ceausescu's brutal domestic policies lead to antigovernment demonstrations in Romania. When the army turns against him, he flees Bucharest with his wife. They are caught by the army and executed three days later.
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