Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — German Unity Day and the 30th anniversary of the fall of the iconic Berlin Wall were commemorated at the German Consulate General here at the weekend. In a symbolic gesture, German Consul General Holger Ziegeler destroyed a replica of the Berlin Wall to commemorate this important national moment in the history of Germany. The fall of the wall in 1989 during the last years of the cold war and the former Soviet Union, led to the unification of Germany and the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Consulate showcased the historic Treaty of Friendship between the German Reich and the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd that was signed in 1929 indicating that Saudi-German relations date back to 90 years. Consul General Ziegeler noted: "Today, on the 9th of November, exactly this day in 1989, exactly 30 years ago, at around this time, following a press conference by the Central Committee about the freedom to travel, thousands of East Germans lined up at the borders and eventually were able to cross: The wall separating East and West Berlin had fallen, and one year later East and West Germany unified." Talking about relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany, Ziegeler added: "The two countries are closely cooperating on the highest level, and I hope that this will even get more intense now that former Saudi ambassador to Berlin, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, has been appointed foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. He speaks perfect German, and during his tenure as ambassador I came to know him personally as very efficient and pragmatic diplomat. My sincerest congratulations to him on this appointment!"
