Congratulations to the People of Germany!

It was twenty years ago, October 3, 1990, that the details of Germany's unification were finalized. Now, after twenty years of hard work, Germany's story is a true success story!

Berlin, the Capitol of Germany, where we have lived for the past month, will be the main place to celebrate this anniversary. It promises to be a BIG party, but also with serious speeches and discussions, a bit of looking back and a lot of looking forward. We are a bit sad to miss the party but it is rather a personal celebration for the people of Berlin.

This anniversary is also the opportunity to remember November 9, 1989, when Berliners joyfully participated in the breaching of the Wall, the Mauer, that had separated the people in East Berlin from those in West Berlin since 1961. The removal of the wall was just the beginning of the Friedliche Revolution, the 'Peaceful Revolution' in East Germany. The SED government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was unwilling to abandon its absolute claim to power and it took demonstrations and negotiations to convince them that the times had changed. On March 18, 1990, the first free ballot in the GDR was held and people voted overwhelmingly in favor of the "Alliance for Germany" the party that promised rapid reunification.

Then the work began to negotiate the unification agreement between East and West Germany and, amazingly, to us, a separate agreement between East and West Germany and the WWII Allies: Britain, USA, France and Russia!

Indeed, our congratulations go out to all Germans, as they take stock of how far they have come since October 3, 1990. After all, twenty years is not long in the history of this country but, perhaps these last twenty years have been Germany's best. Willy Brandt, former Chancellor of Germany and former Mayor of Berlin said, "Now what belongs together is growing together again!"

During these twenty years the Germans have radically transformed their country. So, we wish them a great and joyous celebration.