Germany has been reunited in democracy and freedom for 28 years. It is now almost three decades since the political division imposed by the cold war was overcome, Germany’s Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, said on Wednesday.
“Courageous citizens in East Germany were instrumental in bringing about the fall of the wall between the East and the West. Yet our partner states also played a crucial role. Without their trust in the peaceful, and positive development of a united Germany in Europe, German unity would not have been possible,” Maas stressed, in the wake of Germany’s Unity Day.
“This year, too, numerous countries have placed considerable trust in us,” he elaborated.
Adding that, in June, Germany was elected by more than 180 countries to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for two years.
The foreign affairs minister explained that Germany regards this trust from the international community as a commission to continue to do everything in the country’s power to promote peace and security in the world, in cooperation with their partners.
Maas said that this is only possible within the framework of a rules-based international order. He added further, “true multilateralism must not impose the law of the strong, but needs to create fair conditions for everyone. We want to work together towards this goal, in an alliance for multilateralism, which is open to all interested parties.”
Moreover, regarding the rise of the nationalist and populist sentiments, he stressed that it is necessary to overcome isolation, in the 21st century era, which is increasingly characterised by mutual dependence.
“It is right, and it is possible, to work to counteract these developments. In the mid-1980s, hardly anyone in divided Germany believed that the fall of the Berlin Wall was a possibility, and yet fall it did, just a few years later,” the federal minister for foreign affairs said.
Once again Germany is working with the European Union, and with the country’s partners, throughout the world to overcome divisions, bridge the gap between differing opinions, help resolve crises and conflicts across the globe, and promote human rights, and the rule of law, he continued.
“One lesson from German reunification is that true progress can never take place by going it alone. We are, and will remain, dependent on one another. And that is a good thing.” Mass concluded.
