European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                It j. R it k v 7t�?~ -4js Heinrich Hoffmann remembering the dictator some germans refuse to accept Berlin As the new seat of government because of its nazi past. German Centero tourism slumbering along the Rhine others say that a drowsy place like Bonn does no to deserve to represent the  or Bonne hat s the question by Mary Neth staff writer Berlin yesterdays divided City the prussian Home of hitlers Goose stepping nazi regime and the City that John Kennedy called his own is once again to be Germany a capital. The reunification treaty has finally settled the Berlin or Bonn question once and for All. Or has it the treaty in answer to East Germany a request does indeed name Berlin a capital of  but it does not name it As seat of the new government. It leaves hanging the decision about where the new nations parliament and other important government offices will be located. A that will have to be voted upon after reunification by the upper and lower houses of parliament and no voting deadline has been set a said a spokesman for the West German government. Because of this uncertainty the Battle of the two cities rages on. Bonn the provisional capital of West Germany since 1949, is determined to retain its status As seat of the government. Berlin which was Germany a capital from 1871 to 1945, is just As determined to see these important offices moved within its boundaries. Berlin has been plugging its Case since the first whisper of possible reunification this year. Berlin mayor Walter Momper the City a chief Salesman has called for a fair discussion of the question. He said that Bonn has the advantage in telling its Side of the Story. A your problem a Momper says in a statement a is that we done to have the use of the nationwide press coverage that a available to Bonn As the  the Berlin Senate which amounts to the City Council has done its Best to overcome this disadvantage. It has hired a Berlin advertising company convex Bado to promote the cause. The firm is being paid 3 million Marks $1.95 million to place ads Selling Berlin As the seat of government in 30 newspapers and magazines in West Germany and 10 in the East. The mayor of Bonn sneers at such tactics. A we Are depending upon reason and sanity a said Hans Daniels in a Telephone interview. The need to build new parliamentary and government centers in Berlin a could Siphon off billions needed for necessary reconstruction projects in the rotting remains of East Germany be said. The japanese seemingly go along with Daniels reasoning. They have just built a new embassy in Bonn and fully intend to move into it. A we plan to stay Here a said a spokesman. The germans Are faced with the Berlin Bonn dilemma too. A the government has ordered All projects in Progress to be finished. Planning on other projects is to continue but no construction is to Start. The new parliament building the Schurmann building poses a particularly Sticky problem. After the underground garage Ana basement Are completed work on the $428 million project will come to a standstill. A the government gave its go ahead to Complete construction that had already begun but ruled that no new work could be undertaken a said a spokeswoman for the Federal building ministry in Bonn. A there wont be a Federal decision on whether the project can be completed or not until sometime next  the americans Are remaining Coy on the capital question. When a . Embassy spokesman was asked a Bonn or Berlin a his Only comment was a no  a Momper distrusts Bonne a arguments Over Money. He said Bonn politicians have estimated the Cost of moving the government to Berlin at 80 billion to 100 billion Marks $51.9 billion to $65 billion. But he said a up to now these figures Haven to been broken Down or backed up. Momper estimated that moving the government will Cost Only about a fifth of that amount. A in Berlin there a no need to build a new capital a he said. A just alone in the East Berlin Center there is about 35,000 Square meters of usable space in standing government  though there Are monetary considerations a amps map Bonn first a roman Camp the Rhine town of Bonn population 141,700, did not achieve importance until it became the seat of the Cologne archbishop in the late 13th Century. Composer Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in the town in 1770. In 1949, the City was named provisional capital of West Germany. Berlin Berlin has been the capital of Prussia and Germany. After world War ii the City was divided into East population 1.2 million and West population 2.2 million. In 1961, the East germans enclosed their part of the City with a heavily guarded Wall. The Wall was finally opened last nov.9 emotions also have a Large role in this capital debate. Some people feel that Berlin should be disqualified because of its past As the seat of prussian and nazi dictatorship. A from 1871 to 1945, Only 74 years there was time for two world wars 13 years of fascism the murder of millions of jews communist members gypsies and forced labourers a Jutta Ditfurth a member of the Green party wrote in die Zeit weekly newspaper. Others class Bonn As a Stuffy Small town lacking the stature desired by an important european capital. John Vinocur executive editor of the International Herald Tribune recalled his unpleasant time in Bonn. A no excitement no prostitutes no Scotts no Zelda no writers no painters no Quick earned Money a Vinocur wrote in die Zeit. A for me Bonn was the deepest darkest spot in the Forest of deadly  a West German president Richard von Weizsacker who was the mayor of Berlin from 1981 to 1984, is angered by those who see Berlin As tarnished by its past. A a it a historically erroneous and unfair totally nonsensical to hold berliners responsible a he said in a speech in West Berlin. A the City a history is basically one of tolerance liberalism and openness. In All of Germany it was in Berlin that the nazis won the least number of  Berlin is also in a Good position to carry out the political work needed to strengthen the Reform movement in Eastern Europe von Weizsacker said. For Munich lord mayor Georg Kronawitter the Choice is simple Berlin. A Oberlin was the Symbol for 45 years of the division of our country. Now of course the reunited City must be the Symbol of our reunited country. It cannot be equated by any other City As a Symbol of Freedom and  Bonne a mayor has heard the arguments and can counter All of them. A the first successful democracy on German soil was governed without pomp and splendor but All the More effectively for All that a Daniels said. To such critics As Vinocur he said that a Small town gives Bonn an advantage As the capital even if it is Stuffy. A the term a capital City is not identical with terms such As Metropolis or world City. The capital City As Center of political Power should preferably not be the economic social and cultural Center of the state a Daniels said. A the Structure of the City of Bonn is quite obviously unsuited to promoting hegemonic imperialistic or nationalistic tendencies or even suggesting their  the stars and stripes special report Page 5