Renewed gate marks German unity

Hundreds of thousands turned out for the unveiling

By Rob Broomby BBC Berlin correspondent

The celebrations marking the 12th anniversary of German reunification have climaxed with the unveiling of the newly-renovated Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin.

Former US President Bill Clinton joined German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Johannes Rau at the ceremony.

Now and for ever, it will be a Gate of hope, to people everywhere who long for freedom and justice, for peace, for the affirmation of our common humanity

Bill Clinton

The Brandenburg Gate has been wrapped up and enclosed in scaffolding for almost two years.

The organisers said hundreds of thousands of people had joined in the festivities, which included performances of both classical and popular music and a party around the Brandenburg Gate itself.

After weeks of tension between the two countries, US President Bush also sent his best wishes on the anniversary.

Mission impossible

There was a time when German reunification seemed like a mission impossible.

Twelve years after the two Germanies merged 750,000 people crammed into Berlin's city centre to celebrate that peaceful transformation with an enormous street party.

Bill Clinton was the guest of honour

Expectations mounted as dusk fell - all eyes turning to the massive shrouded symbol of German nationhood itself, the Brandenburg Gate.

The guest of honour Mr Clinton, set the tone for the unveiling ceremony saying:

"Today, the Gate is a symbol of unity, born out of the universal hunger of people to be free. Now and for ever, it will be a Gate of hope, to people everywhere who long for freedom and justice, for peace, for the affirmation of our common humanity."

Joyous scene

Then, as the countdown commenced, the monumental arch, which was trapped in no-man's-land for almost three decades until the Berlin Wall fell, was literally unzipped after a 22-month facelift costing over $3m.

Amongst the crowds enjoying the spectacle, were many young people for whom a divided nation is just a distant memory.

The problems of reunification are far from solved, divisions - particularly economic - remain.

But the nation-wide response to the eastern floods disaster suggests Germany is slowly growing together.

But it was a day to savour the miracle of unity itself, and Germany did it in classic style.