On December 19, 1989, Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl visited the city of Dresden to meet with Prime Minister Hans Modrow. During his visit, Kohl delivered a speech on Dresden’s Altmarkt [Old Market Square], where he was enthusiastically greeted by tens of thousands of East German citizens, who voiced their hope for a speedy reunification with shouts of “Helmut, Helmut.” At the same time, the SED-PDS was holding a rally in East Berlin. There, party chairman Gregor Gysi advocated the independence of the German Democratic Republic.