While the East German central committee was still in session Schabowski announced on the afternoon of Nov. 9, and ADN broadcast in the early evening, the news that "all border crossings to the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin (West) can be used and are now open".
Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online
Read the article and then do an activity
Until new travel legislation could be enacted, those applying to make private journeys abroad could apply without meeting the previous preconditions, and permission would be given "promptly". The Wall itself would, however, remain standing for the time being for military reasons.
As East Germans absorbed and began to take advantage of the decision the flow of visitors westwards became a flood until on Nov. 10 citizens were allowed for a while to cross the border without having their documents stamped. Numerous new border crossings were opened, particularly in Berlin. By Nov. 23 over 11,000,000 visas had reportedly been issued.
In Moscow Gennady Gerasimov, the Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesperson, declared: "These changes are for the better, that is for sure." However, he said, the West German government should take into account the fact that policies aimed at redefining borders would not suit any government in Europe and would only create mistrust. Politically this was not the time to talk about reunification and the two Germanies belonged to two different military blocs.
Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany, who had flown to Warsaw on Nov. 9 interrupted his visit to return to Bonn whence he telephoned Krenz who reiterated that "German reunification is not on the agenda". Afterwards Kohl called an emergency Cabinet meeting. Speaking on Nov. 10 in front of West Berlin's Schoneberg city hall Kohl described the day as "an historic day for Berlin and for Germany" and called for a direct meeting with Krenz. He declared: "We are and will remain one nation, and we belong together. Step by step we must find the way to our common future." Walter Momper, the Social Democrat (SPD) mayor of West Berlin, said on Nov. 11 that Kohl was "out of touch with the current feelings of the people in this historic time" and did not understand what was going on in East Germany. Momper met Eduard Krack, his East Berlin counterpart, at a breach in the Wall on the Potsdamerplatz on Nov. 13.
United States President George Bush said on Nov. 9 that he was "elated". As similar responses across Western Europe gave way to consideration of the possible implications for Germany and for Europe as a whole, French President François Mitterrand (with France currently holding the presidency of the European Communities) announced on Nov. 13 that a special EU summit would be convened in Paris on Nov. 18.
This article comes from Keesings Worldwide Online
| 
