1994 End of a 40-year era of long wave transmissions. DENA closes down its long wave transmitters. Introduction of digital picture transmission via satellite dpa increases control of "ZB-Fotoagentur Zentralbild GmbH" to 100 per cent 1994 dpa subsidiary "Global Media Services GmbH" takes over "news aktuell GmbH", Hamburg dpa's English Service establishes a new editorial office in Washington 1995 dpa Picture Service goes over to full digital production using databank-based library gms introduces "gms-Themendienst" 1996 Hamburg operation of the international Spanish Service is transferred to Madrid where the "dpa Agencie de Prensa Alemana SL" is founded. It produces the Spanish service together with the editorial department already based in Buenos Aires 1992 Scrapping of Apartheid system in South Africa German parliament approves Maastricht Treaty on establishing European Union 1993 Coup attempt in Moscow ends with storming of parliament building 1994 Baltic ferry Estonia sinks 1995 Christo wraps the Reichstag parliament building 1996 Kofi Annan elected as new U.N. Secretary-General German Telekom floated on the stock exchange