By Hellmut Hoffmann*
Twenty five years ago today, on 3 October 1990, after nearly half a century of division, the reunification of Germany took place.
After the fall of the wall in Berlin on 9 November 1989 this was not only another good day for Germany – this was a good day for Europe and a good day for Albania!
For this reason we wish to celebrate this day with you in the opera with a musical performance.
The reestablishment of the unity of Germany as a state has opened the door for the creation of the unity of Europe as a whole on the basis of democracy, freedom, security, the rule of law, solidarity, tolerance and economic progress.
Everyone who thinks in historical terms will be aware that Germany feels committed to these values and objectives in a particular way.
Germany is an engaged champion of European unification – but not only for reasons of historical reflection but out of conviction that the peoples and states of Europe will only manage to secure their specific idea of living together over the long term through an ever closer union.
Only more recently we have had to learn once more from painful experience that the way in which we wish to live together is exposed to dangers.
United Germany tries its level best to act in a spirit of solidarity and to contribute to peaceful solutions, particularly for the reason that we have had the experience that the reduction of tensions can lead to good outcomes.
Whoever tries to do this must be aware that he cannot fulfil all expectations and desires.
If a common project is to be successful, all have to make their contribution and where necessary get their house in order.
I do not exclude ourselves from this – to name one example I would refer to the colossal
challenge of the present refugee and migration crisis, which will keep us busy for a long time to come.
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It is more than a mere historical coincidence, that — only two months after the reunification of Germany– in Albania in December 1990 forces of change dared to come to the fore with great courage.
Overcoming the division of Europe made possible not only the toppling of the dictatorship in Albania, but also led the country back into the fold of the European family.
The European Union is a significant factor of stability in the world. To secure this for the long term, a wise policy of enlargement is called for.
Germany supports Albania‘s endeavors towards joining the European Union.
Much has been achieved already, but much remains to be done.
As just one example I would refer to the very important reform of the judiciary, which will only be successful, if it manages to really establish confidence into the judiciary.
For more than a quarter century Germany has been strongly engaged in Albania with many projects in many fields.
With the Western Balkans conference the Federal Government has initiated the Berlin
Process in 2014, which can bring the entire region forward by way of concrete projects.
The excellent state of relations between our countries finds expression i.a. in the fact that with the successful visit of Federal Chancellor Merkel in July this year, we have seen the very first bilateral visit of a German Federal Chancellor to Albania. We were delighted at the warm welcome accorded to the Chancellor.
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We want to deepen the ties between our countries also with many projects of cultural cooperation.
Therefore also this year we will organize the German October, which we have put under the motto 25 Years of Reunification – 25 Years of Transition in Albania.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of reunification we wish to offer you tonight with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana a classic of the musical history of the 20th century – and this combined with a rare ballet performance!
We are grateful to the Opera’s director, Mr. Kerni, not only for having made this particular suggestion with the realization of which we fulfil a dream of his, but also for the fact that we can be guests in his house tonight.
I am happy to include the Minister of Culture, Ms. Kumbaro, in my thanks as well.
This great project, to the realization of which many have contributed and which has taken weeks of rehearsal, shows in an exemplary way what we wish to achieve with our cultural work, i.e., to bring artists from our two and other countries together in a productive process of mutual learning.
We are most grateful to Youri Và¡mos, a native Hungarian living in Germany, who has made himself a name internationally as choreographic story-teller and to Joyce Cuoco for the choreography; we are equally grateful to the orchestra directed by Desar Sulejmani, an Albanian who lives in Germany, to the choir under the direction of Dritan Lumshi, the choir of the Jordan-Misja-School under the direction of Bujar and Mira Alliu and to all other contributors.
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The famously grandiose appeal to Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi, that is the goddess of fortune and fate as the ruler of the world, reminds us that fortuna, that is fortune, must be there, if something great like the reunification of a country or a continent is to succeed – but to rely on fortuna alone is not enough because we are well advised to be aware that without decisive action nothing or only little would be accomplished! It remains for me to wish us all joy at a beautiful rendition of Carmina Burana.
* These were the remarks German Ambassador Hellmut Hoffmann made at an event in Tirana commemorating 25 Years of Reunification of Germany at the National Opera and Ballet Theater in Tirana with a performance of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, a classical music piece from the 20th century that came with a ballet performance in Tirana.
