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The Week in Germany: Current Affairs

September 29, 2006

A Message from German Ambassador to the United States Klaus Scharioth to Mark the Day of German Unity

Dear Readers,

In the United States, July 4 is an important and fun-filled holiday marking the birth of a great democracy. In the same vein, October 3 is a major holiday in Germany celebrating the unification of our once divided country into the united Germany that exists today.

Ambassador Scharioth

After the Fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the United States played a vital role on the path to German unity on October 3, 1990. Without the decisive U.S. support displayed over decades, German unity might have remained merely a dream.

This year, we celebrate our Day of German Unity for the 16th time. I am delighted to welcome two very special guests of honor to the festivities that will be held on October 3 at my residence in Washington: Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Both were instrumental in bringing about German unification - the 'Chancellor of Unity' and his friend, the President of the United States of America.

Let us be clear: without the tireless efforts of President George Bush and his administration during the landmark "Two Plus Four" negotiations, there would be no German unity today. America's unwavering commitment to and belief in German democracy proved instrumental throughout the postwar era and at this historic moment in time. Our partnership with the United States has been strong for over 60 years, and we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our American allies.

Amid all the bad news involving the fears and very real threats to all open societies today, let us pause and reflect on the good news that German unity is here to stay. Democracy and freedom have prevailed and the German people are grateful for this.

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to celebrate this day along with all German citizens. We are proud of the friendship between Germany and the USA, between Europe and America.

Sincerely,

Klaus Scharioth

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany

Links:

Ambassador Scharioth Meets President Bush

Welcome to the German Embassy in Washington

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