Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!shelby!labrea!cdp!usagdr
From: usagdr@cdp.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: USA/GDR DataBank - Perestroika OnLi
Message-ID: <135900012@cdp>
Date: 16 Jun 89 13:51:49 GMT
References: <1884@ccnysci.uucp>
Lines: 32
Nf-ID: #R:ccnysci.uucp:1884:cdp:135900012:000:1583
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!usagdr    Jun 15 16:41:00 1989


Leo, the International Friendship League of the GDR, which 
manages relations with the various national GDR friendship
societies around the world (we are not a friendship society,
by the way) is not an independent organization, of course.
Perhaps the only truly "independent" associations in the GDR
are the Christian churches and the dissident discussion clubs
which meet on church property.

I have no problem dealing with any group, whatever their 
relationship with their government, provided I have a clear
idea who they are and what they represent.

Speaking of independent associations, you may have noticed a
revival of authentically non-governmental groups in the USSR,
Poland and Hungary, but not, unfortunately, in the GDR.

About computers: Yes, privately-owned modems are illegal in the
GDR.  It hardly makes any difference, however, since line noise
on the GDR's phone system would probably make normal computer
communications virtually impossible.  Personal computers are
widely owned by private citizens, but usually they are low-grade
Commodores which are available in second-hand stores.  I don't
believe the GDR's one personal computer, the Robotron 1715 (don't
you love that name?--takes you back to 1950's science fiction),
is available for private purchase.

You should call USA/GDR DataBank one of these days.  It's a long-
distance call, unfortunately, but before the end of the summer 
we'll be hosting a new FidoNet echo on Eastern Europe and the USSR.
Our number is (202) 529-0140, and we're open for business from
12 midnight to 9 p.m. EST Monday-Friday.