Federal Minister for Culture Monika Grütters (CDU) gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for Berlin's Unity Monument, which is due to be completed by 2017 - the year of Germany's next general election.

The monument, designed by Johannes Milla from Stuttgart and Sasha Waltz from Berlin, will be built in memory of the civil movement that moved East German politicians in November 1989 to allow citizens to cross into West Germany, collectively known as the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Less than a year later, East and West Germany were politically reunified.

"All legal issues ... have been resolved," Grütters said in the Bundestag Committee for Culture and Media, "so the unique and technically demanding monument can now be realized."

Years of delays

Plans for the monument were originally decided upon in 2007 but have repeatedly faced delays. In addition to technical difficulties, other setbacks have included the discovery of mosaics buried under the site and the disturbance of bats.

Grütters also said on Wednesday that she was particularly happy to be able to present the design of the monument in timely fashion, just a few days before the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

The cornerstone for the basin-shaped construction will be laid in the coming year in Schlossplatz, between the river Spree and Berlin's City Palace. Built like a moveable scale, the monument will shift its weight when visitors stand in different places.

ksb/glb (AFP, epd)