Friday, 01 November 2013 00:10
BY THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS
The News
German Ambassador to Mexico Edmund Duckwitz and his wife Joke Duckwitz
hosted a reception at their residence last month to mark the 23rd
anniversary of that country’s reunification.
“The events that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eventual
reunification as a state happened nearly 24 years ago, and are among the
most important moments in modern history,” Duckwitz told his guests at
the start of the event.
“At that time, practically no one could have imagined the enormous
consequences that the fall of the Berlin Wall would have far beyond
Germany’s borders.”
Duckwitz went on to say that the peaceful revolution within the
then-German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1989, which led to the
destruction of the Berlin Wall and emergence of a new government
committed to liberalization, “fulfilled a long awaited dream” not just
for Germans, but for many people across Europe.
“A wave of freedom surged across the entire continent and European integration was given a fresh impetus,” he said.
“Many of the states that less than a quarter century ago were separated
by an invisible iron curtain are today a fundamental part of the
European Union.”
The ambassador also said that despite its recent economic problems, the
European Union is “a true story of success and example of what we can
all accomplish if we work together.”
“For younger German generations, unification has become something
commonplace and normal, and a unified Europe is nothing special for
young Europeans,” Duckwitz said.
“But despite outside and sometimes justifiable criticism, we should
focus once again on the accomplishments that have been achieved thanks
to a unified Europe.”
He added that the still-strong attraction that neighboring states have toward the EU “are not coincidental.”
“Europe, as we know it today, may be a normal phenomenon for many, but it is not a natural one,” Duckwitz said.
“We all have a responsibility to learn from our past, from the period
before German unification and the establishment of European Union. We
must work together enthusiastically and optimistically to overcome the
problems which may arise and to continue developing the European
project. Thusly, Europe, with its vast economic potential and
exceptional values can continue in the future to play an important role
in our global world.”
Duckwitz also spoke about Germany’s bilateral relations with Mexico,
which he said were “broad and based on trust” in all fields.
“Germany traditionally enjoys an esteemed reputation in Mexico and
Germans are fascinated by this country and its rich culture,” he said.
“Germany is fully committed to Mexico economically, politically and
culturally and we have a good and intense two-way political dialogue.”
With a combined two-way trade of more than $17 billion annually and
with more than 1,000 German companies with investment in Mexico
amounting to capital holdings of more than $3.3 billion since the year
2000, Duckwitz said that there is even closer commercial and economic
cooperation slated for the near future.
German companies currently account for 6 percent of Mexico’s Gross
Domestic Product, and provide 120,000 jobs to Mexican workers.
Duckwitz likewise pointed out that since Mexican President Enrique Peña
Nieto took office late last year, there has been on ongoing exchange of
high-level visits.
He mentioned examples of bilateral cooperation in science, technology, academics and culture.
On Aug. 23, 1990, the East German Parliament agreed to formal
reunification with West Germany, and on Oct. 3, 1990, the massive
European country was reunited as a single nation under the west’s
then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Mexico's auto production in May was 297,375 vehicles.
