National District Mayor Carolina Mejía was present for the opening of the new exhibit of the Berlin Wall fragment donated by the Federal Republic of Germany during a formal ceremony at the Montesinos Monument on the Santo Domingo Malecón boulevard. The fragment is in exhibit at the Fray Antonio de Montesinos Monument.
German Ambassador Volker Pellet explains that the gift is on occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Montesinos Monument was chosen as the place to permanently exhibit the fragment because it personifies the same aspiration of a people for freedom, tolerance and respect for human rights represented likewise by the Berlin Wall fragment.
“Today we conclude a project that was born more than two years ago in Berlin. I am very pleased that we are making this donation to the city of Santo Domingo in the same week that marks the 60th anniversary of the execution of the dictator Trujillo,” said Ambassador Pellet.
“This shows how the history of our two countries is marked and linked by the dictatorship and the repression of human rights. I hope this monument reminds everyone of the people’s yearning for freedom and democracy. May it serve as a reminder so that dark passages in the history of our countries never be repeated,” he added.
Mayor Mejia referred to the similarity in the history of both countries, in the struggle for freedom and democracy.
“As you rightly pointed out, I also thought of the beautiful coincidence that we will be celebrating in a few days, on 30 May, 60 years of freedom. When a group of young people representing many and a country that was oppressed and subjected to that dictatorship, decided to take a step forward and then finally today we enjoy this freedom to speak what we want and to enjoy a democracy, thanks to them,” said the capital city mayor.
The German Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Relations held a contest and chose a Dominican artist to create a framework for the historical gift within a work of art that reflects the victory of freedom, democracy and human rights.
The German Embassy explains that of 60 proposals received, the design of artist Martín López was chosen. The judges voted in favor of his work because it illustrates that freedom and tolerance as universal values, and the parallels between German and Dominican history.
Read more in Spanish:
Z101 Digital
27 May 2021