Në Gjermani po festohet 15 vjetori i ri-bashkimit të vendit i cili u bë i mundur një vit pas rrënies së murit të Berlinit. Në atë kohë shpresat ishin që Gjermania Lindore shumë shpejt do të bëhej po aq e begatshme sa dhe pjesa perëndimore. Megjithatë hendeku mes tyre vazhdon të mbetet i madh. Ray Furlong njofton:

Dëgjo lajmin

The Berlin Wall may be history, but the Wall in the mind remains - as the results of the recent election show. The Christian Democrats, for instance, scored 37 percent support in West Germany but just 25 in the East. The new left party, by contrast, won just 4.9 percent support in the West - compared also to 25 percent in the East.

It's a reflection of the fact that living standards in the East are still much lower. Unemployment is almost twice as high, and the population has fallen by 900,000 as people have moved West in search of opportunities. Last year, the population fell by a further 50,000.

In its annual reunification report, the government insists that progress is being made. Net incomes have doubled in the last fifteen years, now reaching 85% of Western levels. Towns and cities have seen their centres repainted and repaved. Work is continuing on improving the motorway and rail network. But the government also admits that great challenges remain.

Since reunification a trillion Euros have been transferred from West to East, to boost the economy there. The government foresees a further 150 billion in subsidies until the year 2019.

Ray Furlong, BBC, Berlin

Dëgjo fjalët

It's a reflection of the fact
Kjo është pasqyrim i faktit

Unemployment
Papunësia

the population
popullsia

insists
ngul këmbë

Net incomes
Të ardhurat neto

repaved
janë ri-shtruar (rrugët)

admits that great challenges remain
pranon se përballet me sfida të mëdha

to boost the economy
jap shtysë ekonomisë, nxis ekonominë

foresees
parashikon

subsidies
subvencione