Germany donates a piece of the Berlin Wall to Taiwan

Taipei - A piece of the Berlin Wall was erected in Taiwan on Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall and to show Taiwan's determination to pursue freedom and democracy. The segment of the Berlin Wall - 3.5 metres tall, 1.2 metres wide and weighing 2.5 tons - was put up in front of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy in Taipei.

Parliament Speaker Wang Jin-pyng presided over the unveiling ceremony which was attended by diplomats from the representative offices of a dozen countries in Taiwan.

"The fall of the Berlin Wall signifies freedom and democracy. We thank Oberhavel County of Germany for giving this piece of the Berlin Wall to Taiwan in recognition of Taiwan's seeking freedom and democracy," he said.

At the ceremony, Jorn Mothes, a civil rights activist from the former East Germany, recounted the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany.

The ceremony was followed by a seminar on the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall for democracy, freedom and human rights.

Taiwan is the fourth country to receive a section of the Berlin Wall from Oberhavel County after the United States, Finland and Poland.