ABSTRACT
From June 3 to 5, 1987, Erich Honecker, the East German state and party leader, paid an official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers. The visit was his third trip to a nato country, and another step in the GDR's persistent efforts to increase its diplomatic presence in Western Europe--efforts marked by references to "common European interests." Honecker appeared interested in boosting trade between the two countries, which had fallen from its high point in 1984; an agreement on scientific, technological, and industrial cooperation for 1987 and 1988 was reached. The main topic of the talks, however, was arms control; and the East German leader briefed his host on the results of the Warsaw Pact summit meeting in East Berlin the week before. The Dutch raised the issue of human rights and travel restrictions in the GDR.
