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| Hungary marks 1989 freedom event | Hungary marks 1989 freedom event |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is in Hungary to mark the 20th anniversary of the country opening its borders to the non-communist West. | The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is in Hungary to mark the 20th anniversary of the country opening its borders to the non-communist West. |
| The decision paved the way for the fall of the Berlin Wall three months later. | The decision paved the way for the fall of the Berlin Wall three months later. |
| The open Hungarian border with Austria allowed hundreds of East Germans to leave communist Eastern Europe. | The open Hungarian border with Austria allowed hundreds of East Germans to leave communist Eastern Europe. |
| The event on 19 August, 1989, was called the "Pan-European Picnic". Mrs Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, said she wanted to thank Hungary. | The event on 19 August, 1989, was called the "Pan-European Picnic". Mrs Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, said she wanted to thank Hungary. |
| She praised the Hungarian people for what she called their courage and foresight. | She praised the Hungarian people for what she called their courage and foresight. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| Organisers of the "picnic" like Laszlo Nagy had wanted to highlight the division between East and West. They did not plan the outcome, but it exceeded their expectation. | Organisers of the "picnic" like Laszlo Nagy had wanted to highlight the division between East and West. They did not plan the outcome, but it exceeded their expectation. |
| "The Soviet bloc was like an air balloon with over-pressure so it needed only a prick of the needle and we were holding this needle," he explained. | "The Soviet bloc was like an air balloon with over-pressure so it needed only a prick of the needle and we were holding this needle," he explained. |
| "Honestly to say, if we wouldn't have organised this Pan-European Picnic, something would have happened two weeks later, three weeks later, because the politicians needed a trigger." | "Honestly to say, if we wouldn't have organised this Pan-European Picnic, something would have happened two weeks later, three weeks later, because the politicians needed a trigger." |
| The system had already begun to crumble. Poland had just elected the first non-communist prime minister in 40 years. | The system had already begun to crumble. Poland had just elected the first non-communist prime minister in 40 years. |
| This "Breakthrough" statue is to be unveiled on the border | This "Breakthrough" statue is to be unveiled on the border |
| Hungary's reformist prime minister Miklos Nemeth had started dismantling the security fence along its border with Austria, partly because it cost too much. | Hungary's reformist prime minister Miklos Nemeth had started dismantling the security fence along its border with Austria, partly because it cost too much. |
| In September, Mr Nemeth fully opened the borders, allowing some 60,000 East German refugees to leave for the West. | In September, Mr Nemeth fully opened the borders, allowing some 60,000 East German refugees to leave for the West. |
| None of this would have been possible without Mikhail Gorbachev's tacit approval in the Kremlin. If the Soviet leader had been toppled in 1989, Mr Nemeth told the BBC, it would have been a different story. | None of this would have been possible without Mikhail Gorbachev's tacit approval in the Kremlin. If the Soviet leader had been toppled in 1989, Mr Nemeth told the BBC, it would have been a different story. |
| Were you in Hungary when it opened its borders to the non-communist West? What are your memories? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Were you in Hungary when it opened its borders to the non-communist West? What are your memories? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |