Message from German Ambassador Heinrich Seemann

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.