NR - 09.102 - November 6, 2009
OTTAWA –The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway is pleased to be participating in the Berlin Wall Commemoration Ceremony organized by the government of Germany on November 9, 2009. This ceremony will mark the 20th Anniversary since the wall came down, preparing the way for the reunification of Germany. The heavily-guarded Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989.
“The Government of Canada is proud of the contribution made during the Cold War by the men and women in uniform who stood for freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as they do today," said Minister MacKay. “I am proud to represent them as we mark a momentous occasion 20 years ago, Monday, when a wall came down and freedom was returned.”
Canada and Germany share excellent, long-standing defence relations. The Canadian Forces (CF) were stationed in West Germany for 40 years during the Cold War, with nearly one million CF members and their families stationed in Germany during that period. Many personal ties were established that endure to this day. While most of our forces were withdrawn from Germany at the end of the Cold War, there remain almost 275 CF members and over 700 family members still living and working in Germany today.
The two countries’ close relations are also reflected by our active international cooperation, healthy trade and investment relations and longstanding people-to-people ties.
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