Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Burundi organized on tuesday october 3rd, 2023 in Bujumbura, the ceremonies marking the 33rd anniversary of the reunification of Germany. The event saw the participation of His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation who represented the Government of Burundi as well as other authorities including Parliamentarians and Senators, the Representative of the diplomatic mission and consular missions, the Representatives of International Organizations, German nationals living in Burundi and friends of Germany.
In his speech, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr.Carsten Hölscher, said that with reunification, Germany regained its full sovereignty in matters of foreign policy and that it is 33 years since his country celebrated that reunification. It was preceded by more than 40 years of painful separation, the result of a murderous war started by the Germans, a war which left the millions dead in Europe and around the world.
According to him, the international community rightly expected Germany to assume more responsibilities for the world peace and security commensurate with its economic power and a consolidated democracy. Ambassador Carsten indicated that on the military level, Germany participates in international peacekeeping operations and organizes the conferences to resolve the international conflicts. In addition, Germany mobilizes the considerable financial resources each year in order to contribute to the economic and political stabilization of the vulnerable crisis regions. According to Mr. Carsten, Germany is the second largest donor to the United Nations system and the second largest donor of the humanitarian aid. As part of a strategic reorientation of Burundi’s development cooperation, Germany favors the approach through multilateral structures or international and regional organizations. Through those channels, Germany remains one of the main donors to Burundi. Although that commitment may be less visible in some cases, it is still evident. Burundi can count on Germany as a reliable partner.
Ambassador Carsten also underlined the commitment of the Land of Baden-Württemberg, which has been linked to Burundi by a partnership since the 1980s. In june, the Representatives of Baden-Württemberg signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with Burundi underlining the desire to continue to intensify relations. Baden-Württemberg supports, among other things through the Foundation for Development Cooperation (SEZ), the numerous projects of Burundian civil society, but also the municipal and university partnerships. In 2024, the two countries will celebrate 40 years of partnership between Baden-Württemberg and Burundi, both in Germany and in Burundi.
Speaking during those ceremonies, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO thanked, on behalf of the Government of Burundi the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany for the invitation she addressed to him in order to participate in that great national holiday.
According to the Minister, the German reunification was a great historical turning point, the emergence and triumph of a new inspiring political philosophy. Indeed, whatever the differences between the reunified entities, federalism with equal rights offers other countries the good opportunities to resolve conflicts from the perspective of shared responsibility. History is stubborn and no one can claim to control or stop it. The will and determination of the German people subsequently accelerated events and on november 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, the path to reunification was thus traced and a reunified Germany regained its full sovereignty on october 3, 1990.
He also underlined that the day of the German reunification marks in the collective memory not only a day of freedom but also the triumph of the aspiration for national unity. He warmly congratulated the German people and at the same time hoped that the artificial walls that are being erected before our eyes between certain powers today will collapse in favor of a united world devoid of conflicts, the geostrategic tensions, the diplomacy of muscles and crisis of confidence, a world tending towards a shared future, a world respectful of the rule of international law, a contemporary world united to face the many common challenges that people are facing at the moment.
Burundi shares and defends, like Germany, the same values of freedom, unity and reconciliation having also experienced many serious crises which have seriously affected its existence as a nation. We had to endure so much suffering and sacrifice, and mobilize so much energy and resources from the national and international community to put an end to it. The painful past that the Burundian people experienced during the colonial period must be transformed into an asset to develop and further cement the historical links between Burundi and Germany and build the solid bridges between those two peoples linked by a shared history that both parties must fully assume.
His Excellency Albert SHINGIRO said that the German Government should, and without delay, review its cooperation map with the rest of the world, and place Burundi on the list of the priority countries like other countries having experienced the same colonial past as Burundi.