German Chancellor Friedrich Merz today delivered a message of unity on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of German reunification, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“Our task remains to reach out to each other - to the east, west, north and south“, Merz wrote on the social platform “Ex“ hours before delivering his speech at the official ceremony in the province of Saarland.
He stressed that “our diversity makes us strong“ and that reunification was not a “sure success“, but the result of “courageous people who stand for freedom and democracy“. “35 years of German unity are a cause for celebration“, the chancellor added.
On October 3, 1990, the eastern states officially joined the Federal Republic of Germany, ending the division that began after World War II. The date is a national holiday - the Day of German Unity. However, the differences between the eastern and western regions continue to be a topic of debate and are evident in political attitudes and election results.
Merz posted a photo on social media of himself preparing “the final touches“ to his speech. "35 years later and in difficult times for our country, we must unite and look to the future," he wrote.
The celebrations include a festival, cultural events and discussions on art and music under the mottos "Future through change" and "Celebrating what unites us." In the evening, the chancellor will attend a concert in the eastern German city of Halle, part of national celebrations that will take place in villages and towns across the country.