On August 19, 1989, Hungarians and Austrians organised a "picnic" near Sopron during which a gate at Hungary's border with Austria was opened, allowing Austrians to join the event. At the same time, more than 600 East German citizens travelling in Hungary took advantage of the opportunity to flee - unheeded by Hungarian border guards - to the West.
President of the Republic László Sólyom inaugurated a statue by the Hungarian artist Miklós Melocco at the commemoration.
"Carved in stone, this memorial will be an eternal symbol of the bravery born of desperation of the East German citizens who risked their lives getting through that border and of the incredible experience of freedom. This sculpture is a reminder to generations of Hungarians and Germans of a great event," Sólyom said.
"This memorial sets apart the events and players of that particular day. It stands as an eternal memorial to their values, to their specific achievements, and to the emotions of the hour. It is a snapshot of the unquenchable longing of the picnic organizer civilians for a return to a Europe without borders; it pays homage to their determination and quick-wittedness, to their ability to organize the picnic despite the obstacles of the time," the president said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked the Hungarian people in the name of all Germans. But she also thanked the East Germans for their courage as they fled across the Hungarian border to freedom.
"Hungary lent wings to the East Germans' desire for freedom," she said.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
