Statue of Ronald Reagan is unveiled at the site of his famous Berlin Wall speech as city prepares to celebrate 30 years since it came down

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation Chairman Fred Ryan unveil a statue of the former president at the US Embassy in Berlin 

• Saturday will mark the 30th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall in November 9, 1989
• Mr Reagan made a speech urging the Soviet Union to remove it on June 12, 1987
• The most well-known part came at roughly 12 minutes into his 26-minute speech 
• He said 'Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall' urging the general secretary to act

A statue of Ronald Reagan has been unveiled at the site of his famous Berlin Wall speech where he urged the Soviet Union to 'tear down' the barrier.

The former US president visited the city on June 12, 1987 where he challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to go further with the reforms he was instituting.

In a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate, which was just on the East German side of the Wall, Mr Reagan said that peace and prosperity would only come from demolishing the wall.

Just two years later, on November 9, 1989, the East German government opened the country’s borders with West Germany, and openings were made in the Berlin Wall. It was demolished over the next few years.


Today, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo unveiled a statue in Mr Reagan's honour, calling it a 'monumental moment' before helping remove its cover on the embassy's terrace, at eye-level with the top of the Brandenburg Gate.

It comes as the city prepares to celebrate 30 years since the wall came down on November 9, 1989. The guarded concrete barrier physically and ideologically divided the German city from 1961 to 1989.

Mr Pompeo was winding up a two-day trip to multiple cities and towns for commemorations.

The most well-known part of Reagan's oratory came at roughly 12 minutes into his...

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