|
Each year on 3rd October German people commemorate the country's reunification on that date back in the year 1990. The challenge of reunification of the two parts of our country is still ongoing in many respects. It does not merely involve political and economic issues, but first and foremost the hearts and minds of the people united in freedom.
While remembering the unification of the Eastern an Western Länder (Federal States) of Germany we may also recall that the fall of the Berlin Wall has to be considered the first step towards the eastern enlargement of the European Union. Here again, we see a process that is still continuing.
Unity and friendship among people and nations in our world are based on the common pursuit of freedom, solidarity and justice. Bearing these values in mind Bangladesh and Germany have co-operated over decades since the independence of Bangladesh.
The Federal Republic of Germany was one of the first countries to formally recognise the new-born state of Bangladesh in 1971. Germans have always considered Bangladesh and her people as their partners and friends. Together we have successfully worked on a broad spectrum of bilateral development projects and programmes. In addition to this, Germany is one of the main contributors to the European Union's and the United Nation's budget for assistance to Bangladesh. In recent years the focus has been on the health sector, generation and transmission of power including the important sector of renewable energies, and the development of the private commercial sector. The latter is of particular importance with Germany being the second largest export market of products from Bangladesh. Although trade is already flourishing, we would wish to further extend trade relations with Bangladesh by exploring new markets and to increase sustainable investment of German companies in Bangladesh with the help of our partners in this country.
In the international arena, Bangladesh and Germany share an active commitment in the promotion of regional co-operation and stability in their respective regions. Further beyond, both our countries are committed to UN activities. Notably, they have become two of the largest providers for peacekeeping forces around the world. Both our countries apparently take an active interest in the efforts to renew the valuable organisation of the United Nations in order to improve her capabilities to guarantee peace and security and to promote the rule of law and justice and social welfare around the globe. One of the motives and goals underlying this international co-operation is solidarity with other people. Solidarity and tolerance among nations and, more importantly, among their people are crucial prerequisites if we are determined to successfully tackle today's challenges such as poverty, degradation of the global environment or the threats of terrorism.
Germany has always held the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Bangladesh in high esteem. We continue to assist the preservation of such Bengal heritage through various large-scale projects, currently sponsoring an inventory of antique sculptures and the restoration of traditional Bengal sailing boats. Certainly, the focus of the cultural exchange and activities is the Goethe Institute in Dhaka, which also offers language courses that are attended by many students. We are happy to see many of them now proceeding their studies at various German universities. Every year, some of the scholars and post-graduates from Bangladesh receive support to their outstanding talents by the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD and the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation..
Germany is honoured to host the 2006 Football World Championship. On this occasion our country will be happy to welcome guests from all parts of the world. As the official slogan rightly goes this will be "A Time to make Friend". Millions of viewers on all continents will follow the 64 games staged in the twelve super-modern World Cup stadiums on television. Visitors to Germany will also have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and diversity of its landscapes and places, from the white beaches of the Baltic shore in the north to the mountains of the Alps with their snow-covered peaks in the south of Bavaria.
Finally, I would like to greet my German compatriots who live in Bangladesh and who contribute with their work to this good relationship as much as the people of Bangladesh who so warmly accommodate us in their midst.
Mr. Holger Fraider
Chargé d' Affaires a.i. of the Federal Republic of Germany
|