East Germany wants to have cross recognition so that each government would assume the status of an independent state. As a result, they handle this matter through the Foreign Ministry. West Germany, on the other hand, views the visits as a domestic matter, and handles them through their special Ministry of Inter-German Relations.
東德希望兩地各自成為獨立國家，視探親為國際問題，由「外交部」主管；西德認為應該是一個德國，於是不由外交部出面，另設「兩德關係部」負責有關事宜。