German chancellor Angela Merkel urges Europe to defend democracy and freedom, when Germany remembered the Berlin wall, the break of the 30-year anniversary.
– the Values for which Europe is founded – freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, respect for human rights – are anything but self-evident. And they need to liven up and defend over and over again, Merkel said.
Merkel spoke of Reconciliation in the chapel (Kapelle der Versöhnung). It is built on the Bernauer Straße, to the place where the wall once ran.
9. November 1989 a large crowd of keräytyessä the border East German border guards opened the gates to West Berlin.
the Crowd brought to the frontier cadre Günter Schabowskin careless announcement that the planned travel restrictions easing will be effective immediately.
the iron curtain had begun to crumble earlier, when the eastern bloc, belonged to the Hungarian open in may its borders to Austria. A key factor was the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev the decision not to interfere in the events.
the East German communist regime broke down and a year after the German reunification.
– any wall that closes people out and limit freedom, is not so high and so wide, that it could not be broken, Merkel said.
Steinmeier: the Struggle with the past and the future
federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and valtionpäät Poland, Hungary, the Czech republic and Slovakia set the flowers in the cracks Bernauer Straße, which is a commemoration of the left upright part of the Berlin division of the wall.
Steinmeir stressed the central european role in the peaceful revolution that led communist bloc unloading.
– Without the Polish and hungarians, the czechs and slovaks courage and freedom, the eastern European revolutions and German unification would not have been possible, Steinmeier said.
Steinmeier said that the communist bloc of degradation does not mark the end of history.
the Term launched a broad debate with american historian Francis Fukuyama . Steinmeier, according to the liberal democracy will be challenged and questioned.
for 30 years the Berlin wall come down in Germany the debate is still about how well the unification of Germany was a success. Many east germans have experienced isolated second-class citizens in united Germany.
in Germany we more than before the debate, and yes, fight for the reunification of Germany and its consequences, Steinmeier said the lunch for the occasion.
German traditional parties cause headaches the rise of the anti-immigration right-wing populism, especially in the former East German länder.
in the European union, too, occur in fractures. The EU commission has criticized Poland and Hungary against the rule of action.
– Also in Europe, you your countries and also european societies, is undergoing an intense and violent struggle, not only Europe’s future but also the past interpretation, Steinmeier said at lunch.
Why the Berlin wall was correctly built in 1961 and demolished in 1989? At this rate, 50 years of history in less than 5 minutes, sound on!
Topic in the past:
the Berlin wall fell 30 years ago – the anniversary was celebrated in Germany 9.11.2019
“the reunification of Germany, the ghost moves over Europe” – the Berlin wall, opening of paved Finland’s way to the west 9.11.2019
the Hungarian secret plan to start the fall of communism – I saw the fall of the Berlin wall 30 years ago 9.11.2019
Chris was shot at the border, Winfried fell from the sky death – the Berlin wall required the last of his victims just months before breaking 6.11.2019
you Know who uttered the words, which the Berlin wall fell 30 years ago – accidentally? 6.11.2019
Yle Areena: the Berlin wall 30 years
Topic elsewhere:
ARD: “In Europa zu unserem Glück verein” (the switch to another service) 9.11.2019
Der Spiegel: Merkel und Steinmeier bei Gedenkfeier: “Keine Mauer ist so hoch oder so breit, dass sie nicht doch durchbrochen werden kann” (switch to another service) 9.11.2019
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