IT is with great joy, a bit of pride and a lot of gratitude that we Germans today commemorate our 22nd Day of National Unity. On Oct. 3, 1990, after four and a half decades of separation, our nation achieved its reunification peacefully and in full accordance with our neighbors. This event ushered in a new era in Europe. With the fall of the Berlin Wall on that memorable day, Nov. 9, 1989, the division in Europe – a result of World War II – was overcome. We will never forget those friends and partners who supported us in difficult times on the stony path to national unity — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being one of them. Shukran to the Kingdom once again! With vision, perseverance and much sacrifice we managed to bridge the social and economic gaps between the democratic and free market-oriented western part of our country and the communist-led and state-run economy of former East Germany. The European Union of 12 member states has since 1990 developed into a union of 27 members, 17 of which make up the Euro-zone. In spite of the current financial challenges facing the 17 European Union countries of the Euro-zone not only we Germans as a nation, but the whole of Europe, have over the last 22 years made unprecedented progress in building an era of peace, stability and prosperity. Let us not forget that the integration of the eastern European states in the community of free and democratic nations was one of the major achievements of European policy in the recent past. Our strength as a nation lies in the principle of “Unity in Diversity”, which we live every day. Germany is culturally and demographically a country as diverse and rich in human resources as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, we are not as blessed as the Kingdom with natural resources. The united Germany has over the years transformed into a multicultural society, based on the concepts of universal human rights and the principles of European enlightenment. More than four million Muslims living in Germany form an integral part of our country. As a religious group encompassing many nationalities they enjoy equal rights like every other citizen. Since 2006 the German government has been conducting a structured dialogue with representatives of Muslim communities and associations in order to promote integration and multi-culturalism. We do not follow those few who would like to make us believe that there is a divide between cultures and religions. We, irrespective of where we were born or live, are all bound and should be guided by the basic human values as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. This Oct. 3 once again encourages us to strengthen the forces of cultural respect and tolerance. After having served a little more than one year in the Kingdom now, I am pleased to see our bilateral partnership grow continuously. This is not only reflected in the substantial deepening of our political interaction, both in Riyadh, Berlin or for instance in New York at the United Nations. It is also reflected in the increased presence of German companies operating in the Kingdom and our constantly growing bilateral trade. Particularly, I would like to highlight Siemens' strategic decision to invest with its Saudi partners in a production plant for gas turbines in Dammam's Industrial City No. 2. We also welcome Hochtief's decision – another German flagship company – to come back to the Saudi market and participate in the construction of tens of thousands of new housing units. And Linde has recently signed a $350 million joint venture project with Sadara. This augurs well. In the German private sector I notice a growing awareness of the enormous potentials the booming Saudi economy has to offer. Let me thank all our Saudi friends, from the government, from the Saudi Chambers of Commerce, especially of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, for their commitment and good advice in further cementing this mutually beneficial economic partnership. I am equally pleased to see so many Saudi citizens travelling to Germany in 2012. We in the embassy have streamlined our visa procedures, improved our services and have in 2012 so far issued almost 80 percent more visas than in 2011. We also noticed a growing number of participants in our German language courses. We want to facilitate more people-to-people contacts. We want to see more Saudis in Germany and more Germans coming to the Kingdom. The Saudi-German Youth Exchange – an initiative taken by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and so ably implemented by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs – has opened up many new possibilities. Shaping our bilateral partnership in the service of fostering global peace and understanding will remain our joint objective in the future. The united Germany with its strong, innovative and knowledge-based economy and its culturally diverse society stands ready to join hands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to achieve these noble goals.
