Nov 8, 2009, 17:44 GMT
Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in Berlin and joined thousands in chipping away at the Berlin Wall as the border dividing Germany fell in November 1989, he said in comments on his Facebook account that were confirmed by his office on Sunday.
He had set off to Berlin together with his party colleague Alain Jupee on November 9, 1989, as big changes were underfoot, he wrote.
'Having reached West Berlin, we went to the Brandenburg Gate where a large and jubilant crowd had already gathered when the likely opening of the border was being announced,' he wrote.
While joining the crowds at the border they also happened to meet French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, then young member of the French parliament.
'At the time I was deputy general secretary of (the party) RPR', Sarkozy added.
'We went to Checkpoint Charlie in order to change over to the Eastern side of the city and finally to see this wall, at which we even had a go with a pick-axe,' he commented.
'We were surrounded by families who hacked against the cement. Some of them spoke to us to explain their feelings and their new ambitions,' he said, adding 'the night went on in general jubilation.'
The premier, who is due on Monday to join celebrations commemorating the fall of the wall alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said: 'The reunification of the German people marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and the start of a time of great freedom in Europe.
Your Talkback on this Story