Namibia Embassy Berlin
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Neue Broschüre: Investieren in Namibia als pdf Fotostrecke mitte: Fotograf Werner Niebel, reweni-Namibia-Kalender |
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Reden des Präsidenten, S.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba hier...
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Namibia Embassy Berlin
“Wir versuchen, n
eue Märkte für unsere Produkte zu erschließen”
DER BOTSCHAFTER VON NAMIBIA
S.E. NEVILLE MELVIN GERTZE
Eine der größten Herausforderungen der namibischen Regierung nach dem Erlangen der Unabhängigkeit war es, eine Nation zu versöhnen, die auf eine lange Phase der Teilung zurückblickt. Dies bildet die Grundlage unserer Identität. Die Stärke des namibischen Volkes ist die Vielfalt. Der Gründer unserer Republik Präsident S.E. Dr. Sam Nujoma sagte, „ein vereintes Volk, das nach dem gemeinsamen Wohl aller Mitglieder der Gesellschaft strebt, wird immer als Sieger hervorgehen.“ In diesem Zusammenhang sind wir, trotz verschiedener Kulturen, ethnischer und sprachlicher Hintergründe, als Nation daran interessiert, nie wieder ein geteilter Staat zu sein. Dabei werden wir von dem Vorhaben angetrieben, den Traum eines industrialisierten Namibias zu realisieren, so wie es in unserer National Vision 2030 festgeschrieben wurde.
Namibia zählt weltweit zu den führenden Bergbaunationen: Diamanten, Uran, Zink, Flussspat, Gold, Kupfer, Blei, Salz und weitere Mineralien werden abgebaut. Die namibische Regierung beginnt nun, die Mineralrechte zu verstaatlichen und dem Unternehmen „Epangelo“ zu übertragen. Welche kurz- und langfristigen Auswirkungen hat dies?
02 Febuary 2012 WINDHOEK – Walter Lindner, the Director General for African Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, in a surprise move yesterday apologized for the “terrible atrocities, bloodshed, brutality and racism” that the German Government committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people.
“I say again sorry for that,” said Lindner, reiterating the words of Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, who at the commemoration of the battle of Ohamakari in 2004 said: “We ask for forgiveness for these trespasses.”
Lindner, who is on a three-day visit here, said Namibia is very special to Germany “due to the dark chapter in our history”, but added that he preferred to look into the future. He said for the past 22 years, Germany had contributed 700 million Euros to Namibia. However, he said it seemed the “Special Initiative” that Germany had introduced for affected communities is not well known.
He said Germany has so far provided 20 million Euros for projects to Namibia but that he had heard that implementation of some of the projects was slow.
“We want to see how more effective the projects can be commissioned to the affected communities,” he added.
Yesterday, Lindner met some members of the Ovaherero community at Parliament. He also met Minister of Youth, National Services, Culture and Sports Kazenambo Kazenambo, who cautioned the German Government that should a scenario where stability in Namibia is compromised because of non-dialogue arose, (between the affected communities and German government), Namibians of German origin would be inclined to go to Germany as a first option which would pose serious problems for that country.
“To address the plight of the indigenous people is in your best interests,” said Kazenambo, urging the German Government to talk to the affected communities, especially about the absentee German landlords who occupy land in Namibia while Namibians suffer.
“Talk to your people (about) how they can contribute or address land reform and the lack of infrastructure (in Namibia),” added the Minister.
Kuaima Riruako, Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero, whose statement was read by Utjiua Muinjangue, said the key issue in healing the wounds of the past would be an unambiguous public apology representing the official position of the German Government on the issue of genocide and the issue of reparations.
“I know that the German Government is allergic to terminologies like genocide and reparations, however, there can be no other words to describe the atrocities committed against my people as much as we would not like to get bogged down into terminologies but address the real issue at hand,” the statement read.
Dr. Hoze Riruako, a member of the genocide committee who attended yesterday’s meeting said his impression was that Lindner wanted to start a new chapter, but besides that, there was nothing new except the Special Development initiative that he raised.
“He came short of supporting reparation. I am surprised why,” he said.
Debate on Namibian genocide and reparations issue is expected to take centre stage in the next two months as the Left Party, an opposition party in the German Bundestag, plans to introduce a motion concerning the matter again especially around Namibian independence day, March 21.
Nicolai Röschert, political advisor and member of the Left Party based in Berlin, disclosed this to New Era yesterday amid reports that Lindner was on an official visit to Namibia from February 1-3.
Last week, an English weekly reported that talks late last year between President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Germany Ambassador Egon Kochanke did not fare well as the latter was apparently “insensitive and arrogant”.
It is not clear whether it was over the reparation and genocide issue, which has intensified after a Namibian delegation including traditional leaders descended on Germany to collect 20 human skulls of their forefathers in October.
But some sources suggest that relations between the two governments may have soured and Lindner and company are trying to restore that through their visit.
This is not the first time that Kochanke has come under fire for “insensitive” remarks.
Last year, the German Ambassador said the Namibian delegation which went to repatriate skulls from Berlin went there with “hidden agendas” at a signing of a bilateral agreement on development cooperation with the Namibian government. Members of the Namibian delegation that went to Germany to return the skulls did no take kindly to Kochanke’s utterances and denounced his claims as insulting and in bad taste.
The German Foreign Office Minister, Dr. Werner Hoyer, also accused unnamed organisations in Germany in a report in the German Bundestag of “purposely” arm twisting or inciting the Namibian delegation that went to collect the skulls of their ancestors to bring the issue of reparation on the agenda.
Die Botschaft der Republik Namibia in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland befindet sich seit August 2008 in der ehemaligen Goldstein-Villa und dem jetzigen Namibia-Haus im Berliner Westend.
Wir sind montags bis freitags telefonisch von 09h00 - 13h00 und 14h00 - 17h00 für Sie erreichbar.
Die Konsularabteilung erreichen sie Montag bis Freitag in der Zeit von 09h00 - 13h00.
Botschaft der Republik Namibia
Reichsstr. 17
14052 Berlin (Neu-Westend)
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+49 (0)30 254 095 0 +49 (0)30 254 095 0 |
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| Fax: | +49 (0)30 254 095 55 |
