Diplomatic World nummer 54

GERMAN AMBASSADOR
H.E. RÜDIGER LÜDEKING
ON THE DAY OF GERMAN UNITY
AND GERMANY AFTER
THE 2017 ELECTIONS
ON THE DAY OF GERMAN UNITY
The third of October 1990 marks the day of the restoration
of German national unity, the end of the 40 year divide of
Germany. It is a day of celebration for Germany, a day that
we can be proud of.
Not only can we be proud that reunification was achieved,
but we Germans can be especially proud of how unity was
achieved: Through patience, peacefully, and with a clear
compass of values and an unconditional affirmation to the
unity of Europe. Through this unity, central corner stones
of German politics have been set that guide Germans to
this day.
These corner stones are built upon what the bloody 20th
century has taught us. It seems useful to be reminded
of it now, at a point in time when central teachings and
lessons are being carelessly thrown overboard, consciously
disregarded, or are just seemingly passing out of mind.
To what ends do we need patience and persistence today?
Hotheadedness and sabre-rattling are dangerous. For this
reason we are settling on Dialogue and Diplomacy also in
the case of North Korea. As has been proven, martialist
behaviour, does not lead us forward, but brings with it
threats of escalation not to be underestimated. During the
Cold War, we have always, though faced with established
oppositions, sought agreement to solutions through
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Bruno Devos, H.E. Rudiger Lüdeking and Barbara Dietrich