Leaders mark 20 years since Cold War relations began warming

Western and eastern European leaders celebrated in Hungary on the 27 June 2009 the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain that divided the continent during the Cold War.

But many in Poland feel the revolution started in their country and that their role in the continent's radical transformation has been forgotten.

Angela Merkel, Germany's first chancellor from former East Germany, praised Hungary on the 19 August 2009 for organising an event 20 years ago, the Pan-European Picnic, that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of her country.

• Primary Source

Spiegel Online International, 5.8.09: Who Deserves Credit for the 1989 Revolution? Poland's forgotten battles http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,640562,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 27.6.09: European leaders celebrate Iron Curtain fall in Hungary http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4437406,00.html

EurActiv, 20.8.09: Hungary praised for helping German reunification http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/hungary-praised-helping-german-r-news-222244

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