Durante la cerimonia tenutasi domenica a Verdun, per celebrare i 100 anni dall’omonima battaglia –una delle più sanguinose della Prima Guerra mondiale – il presidente francese François Hollande e la cancelliera tedesca Angela Merkel, invitata per l’occasione, hanno sottolineato come la città incarni un messaggio di speranza: "È un simbolo dell’inconcepibile atrocità e assurdità della guerra, ma anche della (…) riconciliazione franco-tedesca", ha dichiarato la rappresentante di Berlino.
È la prima volta che un dirigente tedesco viene ricevuto dal municipio di Verdun, e lei ha tenuto a lodare il gesto e l’accoglienza calorosa che le è stata riservata.
François Hollande e Angela Merkel a Verdun
Durante i 10 mesi dello scontro (dal 21 febbraio al 19 dicembre 1916), morirono 300'000 persone: qui "l’Europa si è smarrita 100 anni or sono", ma Verdun "è stata capace di unirsi per la pace e l’amicizia franco-tedesca. Viva l’amicizia, lo spirito di Verdun", ha aggiunto il numero uno dell’Eliseo.
La giornata è iniziata con una visita al cimitero tedesco di Consenvoye per un momento di raccoglimento e un omaggio agli 11'000 soldati che vi sono sepolti.
ats/mrj
Dal TG20:
29.05.2016: Verdun, cento anni dopo
Il servizio di Davide Mattei: Verdun 100 anni dopo
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