History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their fears and openly confront dictators such as in East Germany and Eastern Europe about 22 years ago... The yearning for freedom cannot be contained by walls for long. It was this yearning that brought down the Iron Curtain that divided Germany and Europe, and indeed the world, into two blocs.

I think we live in a period of profound transformation. Very similar to when we had a transition from agricultural societies to industrial societies.

We feel bound to the Christian image of humanity - that is what defines us. Those who do not accept this are in the wrong place here.

Freedom does not mean being free of something, but to be free to do something.

Neither the chains of dictatorship nor the fetters of oppression can keep down the forces of freedom for long.

It seems to me that the fact that I am a woman is a bigger issue than the fact that I'm from the East. For me it isn't really important. I've only ever known myself as a woman.

The times when we could fully count on others are over to a certain extent.