Tag der deutschen Einheit
Rede des Botschafters am 03. Oktober 2011
On my own as well as my wife’s behalf, I’d like to bid you all a very warm welcome here at Villa Ajkla. It’s both a great honour and a pleasure for us to celebrate with you the Day of German Unity. Exactly 21 years ago today, Germany finally overcame the decades-long division that it had endured - as we all know - along with the rest of Europe.
I believe I speak for all Germans present here tonight when I say that we commemorate this day with joy and gratitude. 3 October 1990 was the culmination of the watershed events that had led to what's widely known as the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yet – and here let me quote the German President: “The Wall did not fall: it was knocked down by courageous and determined citizens of the GDR and other Central and Eastern European states.”
The lesson from this is that, in the long run, freedom will always triumph. What was true when inhumane borders divided Germany and Europe will prove true also in the Arab world and everywhere else where people crave freedom, democracy and human rights. If not today, then tomorrow; and if not tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. But the day will come.
Ladies and gentlemen, the historic reconciliation that followed the end of the Berlin Wall was a tremendous achievement for our continent and paved the way for European integration. Irrespective of their size, European countries were given the chance to grow together, as equal partners, under the roof of the European Union. I for my part am delighted to see with what enthusiasm Malta and Germany have grasped this opportunity and are developing their partnership both at the bilateral and the European level.
In this respect the past year has been more than just a good year – it’s been a truly very good year marked by a whole series of high-level visits to Malta and to Germany.
To begin with, Guido Westerwelle, our Foreign Minister, came here in September 2010, followed in November by Werner Hoyer, the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office: Most importantly, Chancellor Angela Merkel paid her first official visit to Malta in January 2011, highlighting how much the German Government appreciates Malta as a partner.
Chancellor Merkel and the Maltese Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr Gonzi, had in-depth discussions on European cooperation, focusing particularly on growth, stabilization programmes and refugee policy. During her stay the Chancellor also had the opportunity to visit one of Valletta’s most beautiful sights, St John’s Co-Cathedral and its German Chapel. With its chapels representing the various nations of Europe at the time of the Knights, she admiringly referred to this impressive edifice as “a forerunner of the European Union”.
Moving beyond the purely political dimension of our bilateral relations, let me also point to the remarkable role Malta played when the Libyan crisis broke out. We’ll certainly never forget the fantastic support Malta provided for the evacuation of 20,000 people from Libya, including several hundred Germans. The Maltese authorities gave unstinting, efficient and unbureaucratic assistance, which was critical for the success of the various operations. Allow me to take this opportunity to express on behalf of the German Government my immense gratitude to the Maltese Government and everyone involved in these efforts, particularly those in charge of coordinating the operations at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In a similar vein, I was deeply impressed by Maltese efficiency and flexibility when it came to organizing the delivery of humanitarian aid worth 100,000 euro, which had been dispatched at very short notice by the German Government to help the Libyan population. The humanitarian hub the Maltese Government set up for the international community functioned splendidly. Here again let me offer my sincere thanks for the tremendous support we received.
I know I've dwelt a good deal on the political dimension of our bilateral relations, but I certainly don’t intend to pass over the flourishing economic and commercial ties between our two countries. There are some 70 German companies operating in Malta. And Germany is one of the biggest investors here.
This, then, was the backdrop to the recent visit to Berlin in September of the Hon. Dr Tonio Borg, Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After meeting Guido Westerwelle, his German counterpart, with whom he had very fruitful and constructive discussions, he and a delegation of prominent Maltese business representatives inaugurated a series of networking events designed to raise Malta’s profile as a business location and of course also awareness in Germany of the unique opportunities Malta offers in this connection.
By the same token, there is huge scope for greater engagement by Maltese companies in Germany and for cooperation with German companies. That was how the idea was born of combining Maltese entrepreneurship and familiarity with the North African market with the know-how and expertise of German firms.
In the context of these meetings, by the way, I learnt that Berliners are among the lucky people able to buy exquisite products from Gozo, which are now on sale at Berlin’s world-famous department store KaDeWe. Since KaDeWe attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world, this clearly provides wonderful publicity for Maltese goods.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve talked about some of the main reasons why this year has been such an extraordinary one. But if I also look ahead for a moment, I can’t help feeling the months to come may be at least equally remarkable.
I’m very much looking forward to 20 October, for example. That’s when the new German – Maltese Business Council of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry will be officially presented to the public. I’m pretty sure this endeavour to promote German – Maltese commercial relations in both directions will be a major success.
Following the outbreak of the Libyan crisis, you may also remember that the German Government, as a gesture of solidarity, offered to take in 150 of the refugees who had sought safety in Malta. The aim was to help ease the burden this unexpected flood of refugees represented for the country. I’m happy to announce that these 150 people will leave for Germany by the end of the month. This will bring the number of refugees Germany will have absorbed from Malta to a total of 283.
Looking ahead to 2012, a visit to Malta by the German Agriculture Minister is under discussion. But most importantly, Malta’s Prime Minister will be paying an official visit to Germany at the invitation by Chancellor Merkel. And according to what I hear from the Office of the Federal President, a visit to Germany by the President of the Republic of Malta would be most welcome at a time to be agreed.
Let me now come back to the subject of Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Malta and her tour of St John’s Co-Cathedral and its German chapel. I’m thrilled to be able to announce that, in token of our commitment to preserving our common cultural heritage, my Government has just agreed to substantially fund this wonderful chapel’s restoration.
Ladies and gentlemen, with these good news I’ll conclude my remarks. All that remains for me to do now is to wish you, also on behalf of my wife, a very pleasant evening.
Niextiqilkom serata pjaċevoli.
