Erich Honecker. was forced out. soon thereafter East Germans began to flee by the thousands across the newly open border of Hungary and through Czechoslovakia. The thirst for freedom among the East Germans was not to be denied. Dramatic changes culminated in the highly symbolic breaching of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain by the ready Issuance of exit visas to all who wanted to leave. Already this year 225.000 East Germans of its 17 million people had escaped to West Germany before the wall was opened. As I speak these words. there are daily advances in pluralism. democratization. and "capitalistoriented" economic restructuring continuing in the German Democratic Republic which continue.