93-year-old architect of German "Eastern Policy" dies

German Social Democrat Egon Bahr, known as one of the architects of West Germany's "Eastern Policy", has died at the age of 93, German media reported Thursday.

Bahr was a "courageous, great Social Democrat" and the "architect of Germany's unity," Sigmar Gabriel, German vice chancellor and head of the Social Democratic party (SPD), told the media after learning about Bahr's passing.

Born in the eastern state of Thuringia in 1922, Bahr was instrumental in West Germany's efforts to improve ties with the Soviet Union, East Germany and other Warsaw Pact states.

His career was closely linked to Willy Brandt who became Germany's first Social Democrat chancellor in 1969.

Bahr was Brandt's chief negotiator for a series of contracts, the most important of which include the Treaty of Moscow reached with the Soviet Union, the Treaty of Warsaw reached with Poland, and the Basic Treaty of 1972 reached with East Germany.

Bahr and Brandt's "Eastern Policy", which is called "Ostpolitik" in German, was based on the realization that East Germany could no longer be ignored and there was a need to improve ties. Their approach became known as "change through rapprochement", an expression coined by Bahr.

After Brandt resigned as chancellor in 1974, Bahr served in Helmut Schmidt's cabinet for two years. After leaving the cabinet, Bahr continued to be a member of the German parliament. Endi