21st Anniversary of Germany's re-unification
Many call it a miracle, Germany's peaceful revolution in 1989 and reunification of East and West Germany less than a year later, which was celebrated on October 3rd by German Ambassador Holger Michael in Dhaka as the "Day of German Unity."
The country was reunified after more than 40 years of post-Second World War division between the communist East Germany (German Democratic Republic) and the democratic West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) through the bold initiative of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany.
"I'm very impressed with how the people in Germany's new states mastered the considerable challenges after 1989," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who helped negotiate the original Unification Treaty, told Deutsche Welle. "I'm not disappointed at all."
In Geneva, two ambassadors represented two Germanys at the UN. Suddenly on October 3, 1990, before my eyes, the GDR ambassador lost his job and the embassy building of GDR in Geneva became the property of Federal Republic of Germany.
It is reported that some 1.6 million people have relocated from east to west since 1990, most in search of better job opportunities. The current German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel hails from Eastern Germany, although many tend to forget that fact.
Huge strides have been made in the past twenty one years in Eastern Germany. Just about every eastern German city and town has been thoroughly renovated. It's not uncommon to see unneeded housing units being torn down in eastern cities. Autobahns and telephone networks have been upgraded, historic cities like Dresden and Leipzig restored to their former glory, new leisure facilities built.
Living standards in the former East Germany have improved thanks to huge transfers from the West -- an estimated $1.8 trillion (£1.14trillionn; €1.3 trillion). An astonishing 50% of the €80 billion ($103 billion) in annual developmental subsidies transferred from west to east is eaten up by social benefits and welfare payments.
Old national paradigms are coming under ever increasing challenges, so the future of the Germany is likely to be influenced just as much by factors from abroad as from within its own borders.
Immigration is crucial in offsetting population decline, as both western and eastern Germans are having fewer and fewer children. According to a report, in the next 30 years the labour force in Germany will shrink from 41 million to 21 million. Foreigners account for roughly 8% of Germany's population, and with the removal of the East-West political divide, German society became much more multicultural, with large communities from Eastern Europe joining the substantial Turkish minority that had established itself in Germany.
In 2010, President Christian Wulff of Germany spoke of a contemporary division between Germans and the nation's Turkish and Arab Muslim community. "Christianity belongs in Germany. Judaism belongs in Germany. And by now, Islam also belongs in Germany ... the duty conferred by Germany's 20 years of unity was to value diversity, close rifts in our society . . . to create real solidarity."
Dr. Merkel, who has presided over successive coalition governments since 2005, is currently beset by constraints that could sweep away her hold on power next year. Her pivotal position is prone to extraordinary fissures. Her party lost seven state elections and the historical defeat for her party in March, in a stronghold in southwestern state, Baden-Württemberg, after a half century in power was extraordinary and her junior coalition partner, the Free Democratic Party was eliminated from Berlin on September 18th.
Although the German Parliament approved the financial stability package for Eurozone crisis on September 29th, Merkel has declined to link the parliamentary vote to a confidence motion -- something she fears would be perceived as a sign of political weakness.
A few words about relations Bangladesh and Germany need to be said. After establishment of diplomatic relations on February 4, 1972, the relations between the two countries began to grow steadily both in depth and dimension. Since 1978, all German funds provided as part of government level cooperation have been in the form of non-repayable grants.
Bangladesh is a priority partner country of German organisations such as GTZ, GIZ, DEG, KFW, KAS and Goethe Institute. Their activities concentrate on socio-economic areas and renewable energies in the country. It is reported that GTZ is providing funds and assistance for up to 380,000 solar home systems and 60,000 domestic biogas plants in remote areas until 2012.
Goethe Institute in Dhaka offers a broad variety of cultural events including contemporary arts, theatre performances, and exhibitions of German and Bangladeshi artists. The Goethe Institute in recent times introduced an innovative programme, called "Schools: Partners for the Future," in Bangladesh. The first two schools from Bangladesh have been included in the programme.
In trade with Germany, Bangladesh has for years recorded a large surplus. In 2010 the total volume stood at $4 billion with $2.7 billion surplus for Bangladesh. Germany is the second largest export market of Bangladesh after the US. It imports 11% of total textiles and garment export and 15% of total export of Bangladesh. Bangladesh shipbuilders see a bright future in manufacturing ships for Germany. Bangladesh imports from Germany mainly comprise machinery, chemical and electrical goods, and medicines. Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry is very active to promote trade and business in both countries. The commerce minister of Bangladesh visited Germany in September. The relations will get a further boost by the scheduled visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sometime this month.
Finally, by most standards united Germany, the EU's biggest nation, is a success story, an economic powerhouse with much to be proud of -- high export rates, low unemployment and growing political self-confidence. Germany's foreign policy has extended its influence in the world, and it is a member of the UN Security Council.
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