Overcome their differences and show more Mutual Respect thats the christmas message of the german president and the open wounds of romanias christmas revolution the country marks a grizzly anniversary of the execution of a communist dictator 30 years ago today that helped bring the countrys bloody revolution to an end. On my iraq its great to be with you we begin this broadcast in syria which according to a relief group more than 200000 people are on the run fleeing a government assault on a slip province most have been heading toward the Turkish Border say Regime Forces backed by tanks are continuing their ground advance against rebel held areas in southern and eastern adlib. About 250 people have been killed in the latest flare up of violence. Syrian tanks fire on targets as the ground assault and it lead province advances. Government forces captured did age after village their immediate opening a major highway thats been closed for 7 years for the army ultimately wants to recapture in the province from the Al Qaeda Linked militias which control it. As the troops push forward civilians try to flee the line of fire tens of thousands are on the run. That are we are leaving because of the shelling out that were worried about our children and that the situation. Why else would we leave why would anyone leave his house. A regiment table. With the Turkish Border closed the only option for shelter is makeshift camps like these its cold and damp the conditions a desperate. Scam for a couple roma because of the shelling. I mean i can hardly survive here in the sort of mud the people are suffering because of the work record. Of. The situation in the camps is likely to deteriorate tens of thousands of syrians are already stuck in places like these. And every day thousands more take to the roads to get out of the war zone. Outlets so here now from many yards. Who are us which is a syrian basic Human Rights Organization and he is talking to us from sweden a very good evening sir are you in touch with some of your aid workers there on the ground in syria are they in at the province what are they telling you about the situation on the ground. Good evening yes were in touch with our colleagues on the field and the situation is little and it gets catastrophic brutal continue deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and homes over 200000 civilians have been forcibly displaced since the start of the assault and according to unicef 60000. 00 children have been displaced since december the inerrant. Written mama now is goes down 103135 schools in the city have been closed completely. 48500 children have denied their right to education as 348 schools in the region have been suspended. The Host Communities for the displaced people are struggling to keep up with the hard lights as many of them are already have been displaced before noite know it is thief in. The moment as even camps are being targeted. Even though there are no armed groups or military installations in the area. Well that was human rights activists riyadh and National Forests who talked to us earlier what we have seen there was some of the other stories making news around the world ever came a fast i 35 civilians almost all of them women were killed by joe hart its near the town of erbil on tuesday 7 soldiers and 80 attackers also died in the shootout afterwards that lasted for several hours present ha shook up or a called for 2 days of national mourning. In hong kong demonstrators are continuing a standoff with Police FollowingChristmas Eve protests riot police fired tear gas in a major shopping district activist block streets and smashed shop windows and see government protests and hong kong are now in their 7th month. In a traditional christmas address Queen Elizabeth the 2nd focused on peace harmony and the transformative power of hope while the queen reflected on this past summer 70th 75th a d. Day anniversary commemorations she cited the events as an example of peoples capacity to overcome deep seated divisions commemoration. And pope francis has given his christmas address from the vatican and the annual be a or b. Which is latin for to the city and the world the pontiff spoke about migrants and people whove endured what he called unspeakable forms of abuse well that was a reference to spiralling allegations of sexual abuse in churches around the world francis also calls for an end to world conflicts the pontiff finished by a blessing the catholic faithful who packed st Peters Square in rome. 50000 people gathered in st Peters Square in bright sunshine for the popes christmas address its the 7th of his papacy and again the condemnation of war and violence was the heart of his message with conflicts in Europe Asia Africa and the americas francis issued a call for peace. He still. Made rice to bring his lights to the many children suffering from war conflicts in the middle east and in various countries of the world. He inspired governments and the International Community to find solutions to allow the peoples of those regions to live together in peace and security. And put an end to their suffering in the release of it in. The list of war torn regions its long francis again called for better protection for people fleeing the violence and he criticized europes policy of expelling or refusing entry to migrants toward the end of his address he gave the traditional blessing or be to the city of rome and the world. But. Its. The same. And then a more mundane message to the things people around the globe. And joy your christmas lunch. I well in his christmas address in german the present funk laughter steinmeier has appeal to germans to overcome their differences and respect each other as equals present time are also noted the high points of 29000 including the 30th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall and low points including the far right attack in october at a synagogue in the city of hama. For the german president the holidays are a time of rest and reflection looking back on the events of the past year the anti semitic attack at a synagogue and how it had a profound impact on the buildings locks door prevented greater tragedies. Than it bears the traces of some 20 bulletins from the bridge you see the splintered wood and the metal remains in the bullet holes this is the this door guards the entrance to the synagogue and how it is a miracle that it held and that no more people fell victim to this brutal anti semitic attack in which 2 of our fellow citizens were murdered and sum up for the funds and states by the have modeled for things and done my visited the location of the anti semitic attack as soon as he could on christmas he asked the germans to fight hatred and defend democracy. Blasted. Democracy and meet selfassurance citizens who have a confidence and drive common sense and decency and to show solidarity with others when they know that all these qualities are present in you in us in this society. Steinmeyer says what exemplifies germans is their daily commitments to improve society. You lend a hand to help your fellow human being in your neighborhood in your clubs as a volunteer or a salaried employee thousands of you are helping even tonight for example in police stations hospitals and in care homes president don meyer says he hopes germans can continue to find courage and optimism in the coming year so they can find the strength to create a better future. And you can watch president s timers speech in its entirety here on news at midnight berlin time thats then about 2 hours but next we shift our attention to remain here that country is marking 30 years since the execution of former dictator nicolae ceausescu and the overthrow of his communist regime while sharpe who remained here for over 2 decades that imposed a highly off are tearing former leadership on his country following a brief show trial he was executed along with his wife elena on Christmas Day 989. And ditto views are part search she joins us now he was there at that momentous time in history right after the execution of. Take us back with you to that very moment when you arrived there would did you find well people were euphoric they were happy that ceausescu was gone and they wanted to have ample Food Supplies on the store shelves again they wanted to have medicine available in pharmacies they wanted to have heating back in their homes and all these things were incredibly rationed because ceausescu was obsessed with paying off the National Debt and so he exploited everything he could imported very little and almost everyone suffered except of course his higher political lackeys and i think that was the Tipping Point for most people it was the Tipping Point so extreme austerity now what makes this so fantastic to have you here is you wrote a book you also directed a documentary film im just going to hold it up why what sparked the interest well it all started back in thats a city in western rumania very close to the hungary and border and a dissident protestant minister named glassful was using his pulpit to preach against the injustices in the country and against the dictatorship and of course you know that would have a very short shelf life in a country ruled by it. But he had the advantage last had an advantage he had a brother in montreal canada. Who defected 2 decades earlier and that brother ish pontification was using the media to keep his brothers name in the spotlight at least in north america ok surely in International Media and because he knew that ceausescu was very sensitive to any criticism from the west he was hoping that would keep his brother at least alive usually you would disappear if you were a distant like that and then what he did was he sent in a couple of reporters into the country from montreal they did a secret television interview. And when that interview was then broadcast out in the west and because of that. The dissident protestant minister was fired and he was given a deadline of december 15th to get out of his church or he would be forcibly taken out and what happened that day is hundreds and thousands of people surrounded his church to protect them the army and secluded thought the secret Police Attack was a bloodbath spread across the city spread across the country to was taken into internal exile in mean year in deep in romania and. Within days the army switch sides and all of a sudden he opens the door no more interrogations and hes a free man. Who is executed and eventually becomes a european member of parliament. Wow talk about having 9 lives almost well you mentioned the European Parliament remaining of course now is a full fledged member of the European Union has come a long way from its dark past that you just outlined this seminal moment in its history how is it doing the wounds are still open are there challenges. Give us an update a lot of people think that the people who are responsible for a lot of the injustices in the country it was just to have not being taken to task are not have not being made accountable yet and also theres 2 major problems still in the country one is the population at least 3000000 if not 4000000 have left remaining to work in the west because of the low salaries in romania so theyre in spain especially in spain in italy in germany in england and theres no. Sign that theyre coming back to remain its one problem the other problem and this is people are very sensitive about this is theres a culture of craft a culture of corruption in romania and so people are desperate to try and find honest politicians who will deliver what they promise and there have been countless demonstrations about corruption going on even from remains would move to the west they came to book arrest a number of times to protest about this horrendous situation there at least this is democracy freedom of speech all that but still its got a long way to go are you optimistic about the future i mean im optimistic about the future and. It needs time it needs another generation. So she thank you for enlightening us about this seminal moment in for maintenance history and thank you for watching i think a more. Informed. Language courses. Video audio. Anytime anywhere. W. B. s