Wellwishers wait to catch a glimpse of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-Polish president Lech Walesa crossing the 'Boesebruecke' bridge at Bornholmer Strasse in Berlin during a ceremony marking the opening of the Berlin wall on November 9, 2009 as Germany celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Merkel and Gorbachev joined ex-Polish president Lech Walesa and former dissidents to pass through what used to be Bornholmer Strasse crossing onto the Boesebruecke iron bridge. Getty Images logo Getty Images 3 weeks ago

Wellwishers wait to catch a glimpse of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-Polish president Lech Walesa crossing the 'Boesebruecke' bridge at Bornholmer Strasse in Berlin during a ceremony marking the opening of the Berlin wall on November 9, 2009 as Germany celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Merkel and Gorbachev joined ex-Polish president Lech Walesa and former dissidents to pass through what used to be Bornholmer Strasse crossing onto the Boesebruecke iron bridge.

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  1. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a debate of the lower house of parliament, Bundestag in Berlin, December 3, 2009. German lower house of parliament Bundestag on Thursday is due to vote to extend Germany's participation in a NATO peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan for one more year.
  2. BERLIN - DECEMBER 03: A police van drives past giant banners showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel that read: 'Climate Protection Now! Copenhagen 2009' (L) and 'Mrs. Merkel: Save the Climate! Now!' hanging from Hauptbahnhof train station on December 3, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The banners, hung by Greenpeace activists, refers to the upcoming summit on climate change in Copenhagen, where Chancellor Merkel will lead the delegation representing Germany.
  3. BERLIN - DECEMBER 03: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak to the media after talks on December 3, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Ministers from the two countries signed a series of documents on mutual cooperation, including one aimed at supporting measures to reduce global warming.
  4. BERLIN - DECEMBER 02: Newly appointed German Family Minister Kristina Koehler (R) chats with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) prior to she takes the oath of office as Norbert Lammert, President of the German lower house of parliament, presides at the Bundestag on December 2, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Kristina Koehler replaces Ursula von der Leyen who replaces Franz Josef Jung as Minister of Work and Social Issues. Franz Josef Jung resigned on November 27 over a deadly air strike in Afghanistan in September 2009, when he was Defence minister.

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  1. BERLIN - DECEMBER 03: A police van drives past giant banners showing German Chancellor Angela Merkel that read: 'Climate Protection Now! Copenhagen 2009' (L) and 'Mrs. Merkel: Save the Climate! Now!' hanging from Hauptbahnhof train station on December 3, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The banners, hung by Greenpeace activists, refers to the upcoming summit on climate change in Copenhagen, where Chancellor Merkel will lead the delegation representing Germany.
  2. BERLIN - DECEMBER 03: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak to the media after talks on December 3, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Ministers from the two countries signed a series of documents on mutual cooperation, including one aimed at supporting measures to reduce global warming.
  3. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on November 19, 2009 in Brussels. European leaders were urged not to miss a 'historic occasion' as they gather to choose a first-ever European Union president to represent the 27-nation bloc on the world stage.
  4. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a session of the lower house of parliament (Bundestag) in Berlin on November 12, 2009.
  5. German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during the Armistice Day ceremony marking 91 years since the end of World War I, on November 11, 2009 in Paris. German leaders have attended Armistice Day events in France before -- most notably when chancellor Helmut Kohl took president Francois Mitterrand's hand in Verdun, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the 1914-18 war. But Merkel's visit will be the first time a German leader has attended the Paris ceremonies marking the surrender of Germany after four years of trench warfare that left millions dead.
  6. German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during the Armistice Day ceremony marking 91 years since the end of World War I, on November 11, 2009 in Paris. German leaders have attended Armistice Day events in France before -- most notably when chancellor Helmut Kohl took president Francois Mitterrand's hand in Verdun, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the 1914-18 war. But Merkel's visit will be the first time a German leader has attended the Paris ceremonies marking the surrender of Germany after four years of trench warfare that left millions dead.
  7. BERLIN - NOVEMBER 09: Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev attends celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The city of Berlin is celebrating the occasion at the Brandenburg Gate attended by European Union and former Allied leaders.
  8. Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (L) and former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev pose before unveiling of a bust of Gorbachev by French artist Serge Mangin in Berlin, on November 9, 2009, as Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
  9. The last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses guests after a bust of himself by French artist Serge Mangin was unveiled in Berlin, on November 9, 2009, as Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with many world leaders coming to Berlin to mark the event.
  10. The last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses guests after a bust of himself by French artist Serge Mangin was unveiled in Berlin, on November 9, 2009, as Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with many world leaders coming to Berlin to mark the event.
  11. The last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses guests after a bust of himself by French artist Serge Mangin was unveiled in Berlin, on November 9, 2009, as Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with many world leaders coming to Berlin to mark the event.
  12. The last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addresses guests after a bust of himself by French artist Serge Mangin was unveiled in Berlin, on November 9, 2009, as Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with many world leaders coming to Berlin to mark the event.
  13. Former Polish President Lech Walesa (R) meets residents of Dublin as Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny (2nd L) looks on in Dublin, Ireland, on September 18, 2009. Lech Walesa is on a visit to Ireland to campaign for a 'YES' vote in favour of the Libson Treaty. A referendum on the Treaty will be held in Ireland on October 2, 2009.
  14. Former Polish President Lech Walesa listens to questions from the media during a press conference with Fine Gael leader Ebda Kenny in Dublin, Ireland, on September 18, 2009. Lech Walesa is on a visit to Ireland to campaign for a 'YES' vote in favour of the Libson Treaty. A referendum on the Treaty will be held in Ireland on October 2, 2009.
  15. Former Polish President Lech Walesa listens to questions from the media during a press conference with Fine Gael leader Ebda Kenny in Dublin, Ireland, on September 18, 2009. Lech Walesa is on a visit to Ireland to campaign for a 'YES' vote in favour of the Libson Treaty. A referendum on the Treaty will be held in Ireland on October 2, 2009.
  16. Former Polish President Lech Walesa (L) imitates a street painting of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen during a walk in Dublin, Ireland, on September 18, 2009. Lech Walesa is on a visit to Ireland to campaign for a 'YES' vote in favour of the Libson Treaty. A referendum on the Treaty will be held in Ireland on October 2, 2009.

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  2. Head coach of Club Brugge KV, Andrie Koster prior to the UEFA Europa League soccer match against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in Donetsk, Ukraine, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.
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  4. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Afghanistan- Assessing the road ahead", on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 3, 2009.
  5. U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is pictured at his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on his nomination to continue as Chairman of the Board of Governors, on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 3, 2009.
  6. A Christmas tree made from used plastic bottles decorates a square in the centre of Paris, December 3, 2009. Four trees over four metres in height, lit by LED lights were conceived by a gallery designer Fabrice Peltier.
  7. VIGEVANO, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: Shoes belongs to Pope Pio XI are displayed at the International Footwear Museum Of Vigevano on December 3, 2009 in Vigevano, Italy.
  8. VIGEVANO, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: Manolo Blahnik poses during his visit to the International Footwear Museum Of Vigevano on December 3, 2009 in Vigevano, Italy.
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  10. TOKYO - DECEMBER 03: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada compete in the Ice Dance Original Dance during the day one of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on December 3, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.
  11. VIGEVANO, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: Manolo Blahnik is interviewed during his visit to the International Footwear Museum Of Vigevano on December 3, 2009 in Vigevano, Italy.
  12. TOKYO - DECEMBER 03: Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy compete in the Ice Dance Original Dance during the day one of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on December 3, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.
  13. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks to The Associated Press at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday that he's willing to talk with the Taliban chief in a bid to bring peace to the country if the move would have the backing of the United States and other international partners.
  14. FILE - In this June 4, 2008 file photo French soccer star Zinedine Zidane smiles during a press conference in Poznan, western Poland. The U.N. says retired international soccer star Zinedine Zidane will to visit Gaza in March to promote Mideast peace.
  15. U.S. murder suspect Amanda Knox talks to a lawyer prior to a defense hearing at the court in Perugia, central Italy, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. American student Amanda Knox made her final statement to the Italian court trying her for the murder of her British roommate, saying Thursday she doesn't want to be branded an assassin. Her voice breaking as she fought back tears, Knox addressed the eight members of the jury just before they go into deliberations, possibly Friday.
  16. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, front, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, background, are seen in the German Federal Parliament in Berlin, on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Germany's defense minister says a Sept. 4 decision to call an airstrike in Afghanistan that killed civilians was "militarily inappropriate." Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told parliament on Thursday that he was correcting his position on a German general's decision to call the airstrike against two fuel tankers in northern Afghanistan. Guttenberg had previously defended the attack.