Message from German Ambassador Heinrich Seemann

In this year, Indonesia and Germany have something special to celebrate -- our Indonesian friends have the 50th anniversary of their independence, and the Germans have the fifth anniversary of their reunification.

Both dates remind us of historical events which were of crucial importance for our countries. As Germans, we are happy that the long division of our country, as well as that of Europe, could be overcome and that our aspirations for reunification were finally fulfilled. This happened in a unique process of peaceful international settlement, leaving behind us years of confrontation between antagonistic blocks in Europe and the world as a whole.

Looking on the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of German reunification, as well as on the 50th anniversary of Indonesian independence, we are well aware that the history of our two countries and the tradition of special relations between our countries date back for centuries. In Germany, we had always felt a deep admiration for the old culture of Indonesia, with its splendid past. It so happens that in this very year, thousands and thousands of Germans are flocking to Hildesheim, where the National Museum of Jakarta, together with the Roemer-Pelizaeus- Museum, have organized a major exhibition, titled "Ancient Kingdoms of Indonesia", which is, by the way, also a part of our contribution to the 50th anniversary of Indonesia.

Anniversaries usually provide an opportunity to look back. I think, however, that we should use both events to look ahead.

It is true that reunited Germany had to tackle with the ruins of a state-run communist economy in East Germany, which had not only gone bankrupt, but which had also lost its traditional markets. In the past five years, we have succeeded in building up in East Germany the cornerstone of one of the most modern technological setups in Europe. The reason: we had to start from scratch and could trust on highly motivated and well educated men and women, a situation which resembled the time of reconstructing the West German economy in the 1950s. Today, the growth rate in East Germany lies well beyond 6 percent or 7 percent - thus resembling the growth rate of the economy of our Indonesian friends.

Reunited Germany, though not a big country, situated in the heart of Europe and member state of the European Union, is firmly set to continue the traditional cooperation with our Indonesian friends. A cooperation which began in the very first years after Indonesia became independent, when many young Indonesians came to study at German universities.

It is in this spirit that we want to be partners in the world of tomorrow, in a world which will reveal Indonesia as one of the major players on the political chessboard of Asia and the Pacific in the 21st century. In the framework of our new policy approach towards Asia we are ready to broaden our cooperation with Indonesia in all possible fields: politics, economy, development policy, technology transfer, environment, education, scientific exchanges, professional training, and culture.

It was this future which was at the heart of the talks which President Soeharto and Chancellor Helmut Kohl had in Bonn in April 1995.

Moreover, Germany and Indonesia, being both, at the moment, members of the UN Security Council, envisage an extended dialog in fields which span from the reform of the United Nations, to human rights. The newly established Indonesian-German Forum for Economy and Technology will have its first meeting in October this year. Plans of opening a so-called German Center in Jakarta are well on the way.

The numerous visits of delegations from German Federal states to Indonesia in the last 12 months will have an equally strong influence towards future economic and industrial cooperation, as do the visits of Federal ministers to Indonesia and of Indonesian ministers to Germany.

A special long-range impetus is expected from the participation of Indonesia as main partner in the world's biggest industrial fair in Hannover this spring. Another significant signal for the future was given by the 25th anniversary of the German-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, Ekonid, which we celebrated with the former German president Richard von Weizsaecker as guest speaker, in August this year.

Nothing could better accentuate the promising start to the future than these events, which all happened in the year of Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence.

Today, we look with respect at the impressive achievements that your country has reached over the last decades: years of continuous growth and development of all fields, in a vast maritime continent, by means of a policy reflecting your motto "unity in diversity". We especially appreciate that Indonesia, as a big power in Asia and a respected partner of regional integration schemes like ASEAN, AFTA, and APEC, has always maintained its traditional links with Europe.

It is in this respect that I venture the hope for an even deeper cooperation of our two countries in the years to come.