A four-tonne piece of the Berlin Wall was unveiled in Reykjavík yesterday, commemorating the 25th anniversary of German reunification.
RÚV reports that the section was formally dedicated at Höfði, site of the famed 1986 summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. In attendance at the ceremony were the US, Russian and German ambassadors to Iceland, amongst others.
“I think it’s very good that [the wall portion] is in Reykjavík and not in Germany anymore,” German ambassador Herbert Beck told attendees. “I consider it to be a worthy symbol of democracy, and a change from totalitarianism to freedom. Icelanders are a rather liberal people, and this is a fine testament to that. I am ecstatic to see this here.”
The Berlin Wall section comes from the German arts centre Neu West Berlin. Similar pieces of the Berlin Wall can be found throughout the world. Kingston, Jamaica is home to one portion, awarded to runner Usain Bolt in 2010. Another piece can be found at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, given to the ex-president in 1990.
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