Completing Europe’s unification

Twenty years ago the Berlin Wall fell. We, Germans, mark this day with joy and, at the same time, with humbleness and gratitude. That year’s events taught us that we cannot lose hope and that we should struggle for our goal, ideals, and rights. After 1945, German people were standing hopeless among the ruins of the Second World War, the country was divided, the families broken, and our homeland was lost. Will the unity come some day in the future? “Those who lived in awareness all the years following 1933 and experienced the total collapse of 1945 are thinking excitedly that today, at the end of The Day, a new Germany arises.” With these words Konrad Adenauer, who later became the Federal Chancellor, started signing the West German Constitution at the Parliamentary Assembly in 1949. This was the hour when the Federal Republic of Germany was born, whose 60th anniversary we are marking this year.

However, this Germany remained imperfect and separated. Therefore, the Constitution of 1949 was regarded temporary. Its preamble called on the “entire German people” to bring unity and freedom to Germany in free self-determination. However, an exact opposite happened: the Berlin Wall was erected on Aug. 30, 1961, cementing what was done earlier, in 1949, through the establishment of the countries of FRG and GDR, namely the splitting of Germany and Europe.

Forty years had to pass before the great appeal of the Constitution to the German people became a reality.

On Nov. 9, 1989, this wall was destroyed by the brave citizens of the GDR without a shot. But we know: that would be impossible without the development in our neighboring countries, Poland and Hungary. Entire Europe was swept over by a unique mood of changes, irresistible will to have freedom, which continues to give us strength.

However, the embryo of the peaceful revolution was growing before then — in Hungary in 1956, during the Prague Spring in 1968, and in Charter 77. It was strengthened by the protests of Polish Solidarity, and later developed in the time of perestroika and glasnost. Within the GDR the erosion of power had also started earlier. The elections to local authorities on May 7, 1989, were the beginning of the GDR’s end. It was clear to everyone that the GDR elections were regularly falsified in favor of the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany). But on May 7, 1989, the vote count in the GDR was for the first time controlled by civic groups, and the falsifications were revealed.

Then, on the seventh day of each month, in East Berlin and other places demonstrations were held. “We have planned everything. We were ready for everything, but not for candles and prayers.” This was the conclusion made by the then head of the People’s Council of the GDR Horst Sindermann about the events of autumn 1989, which were deadly for the SED. Finally, the GDR regime was unable to oppose the mass movement. The non-violent resistance was triumphing.

Germany’s unity that came a year later was made possible only thanks to the fact that Germany had been firmly integrated into the European and Atlantic structures. Building up Europe was the raison d’etre for the Federal Republic of Germany since its first day — and still remains so in this anniversary year. Our neighbors, partners and former foes believed us, expecting that we will treat our unification in a responsible way... We had been working, step by step, to this end. Germany is grateful for this trust.

Twenty years later we ask, looking also on Ukraine: What has remained? First of all, 1989 was a year of epochal change. At the time, we were speaking about the implementation of human and civic rights and about democracy and civic society in entire Europe. We were speaking about freedom in a broader sense. And when in 2004 Ukrainian citizens saw a threat to this freedom, we took to the streets to defend it. Entire Europe was in deep emotions and eager to help.

However, freedom does not come on its own; it should be demanded and defended again and again, day by day. Without efficient structures of a rule-of-law state and democracy it will remain in danger. The British historian Tony Judt once said that in 1989 for people in the East “Europe, rather than capitalism, became a model opposed to Communism.” And this is still true: the EU remains the most important factor for order on the continent; it is a solid community of values and inspires its members to compete in the globalized world economy.

This kind of Europe includes an understanding of the fact that the state will guarantee freedom, providing the principles of a rule-of-law state and democracy. Ukraine wants to be part of this Europe, and we will support it on this way as strongly as we can. It is often forgotten that Ukraine has acknowledged these values by joining the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights in 1995.

However, I frequently hear complaints from disillusioned people in Ukraine that the Berlin Wall was moved further to the east and renewed in the form of the “Schenghen wall.” Such accusations are wrong; they are embellishing the tragic nature of the Cold War separation. Nearly 200 people were killed near the Berlin Wall, and even more people were killed in the border zone between the German states; many families were separated for decades. The wall meant a cold war and invincible division.

Europe is not setting up fences. On the contrary, last year over a million of Ukrainians travelled to the EU with Schenghen visas. We support the studies of young, talented Ukrainians in Germany. Thousands of people visit their relatives without problems. The work on liberalization of the visa regime makes gradual progress, and both sides are in agreement on the goal of the visa dialogue. Even now the German embassy issues free-of-charge visas in nearly half of the cases, and every fifth visa is issued for a one-year or longer term. The exchange between our citizens has become more intense than ever.

The negotiations on the Association Agreement with the EU are also making headway. Ukraine has become an EU partner in the Eastern Partnership Program established in May 2009. This partnership by no means excludes future membership. On the contrary, it gives a chance to accelerate the process of approaching the European Union, and Ukraine should use this chance.

One thing is clear: the year 1989 means not only heritage but also tasks. Therefore, on November 9 we think not only about the happiness of German unity, but also about the chance, even an obligation to shape in a new way the life of the continent, because Europe is in Ukraine and Ukraine is in Europe.

The way to united Europe is long; Germany has not yet overcome the aftermaths of its 40-year-long separation. However, if we set out with a will and courage, it will bring us to our goal. And this is the lesson we can learn from the year 1989.