Deutschland 83 Is Determined to Stake out His Very Own Territory
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October 3, 1990 – October 3, 2015. A German Silver Wedding A global local newspaper in cooperation with 2015 Share the spirit, join the Ode, you’re invited to sing along! Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium, fire-inspired we tread, thy Heavenly, thy sanctuary. Thy magic power re-unites all that custom has divided, all men become brothers under the sway of thy gentle wings. 25 years ago, world history was rewritten. Germany was unified again, after four decades of separation. October 3 – A day to celebrate! How is Germany doing today and where does it want to go? 2 2015 EDITORIAL Good neighbors We aim to be and to become a nation of good neighbors both at home and abroad. WE ARE So spoke Willy Brandt in his first declaration as German Chancellor on Oct. 28, 1969. And 46 years later – in October 2015 – we can establish that Germany has indeed become a nation of good neighbors. In recent weeks espe- cially, we have demonstrated this by welcoming so many people seeking GRATEFUL protection from violence and suffer- ing. Willy Brandt’s approach formed the basis of a policy of peace and détente, which by 1989 dissolved Joy at the Fall of the Wall and German Reunification was the confrontation between East and West and enabled Chancellor greatest in Berlin. The two parts of the city have grown Helmut Kohl to bring about the reuni- fication of Germany in 1990. together as one | By Michael Müller And now we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our unity regained. Berlin is once more a unified city and wenty-five years of German unity the capital of our country. It is well on are also 25 years of a unified its way to becoming an international Berlin. For our city in particular, metropolis. And above all, Berlin is a this quarter-century of German cosmopolitan city admired interna- Tand Berlin togetherness is a reason to tionally for the way it has carried out the process of unification. Although celebrate. not everything is a shining success, Twenty-five years after the Fall of the we can be proud of what we have Wall, Berlin has become an internationally thus far achieved. recognized, tolerant, liberal, and now-pros- This newspaper, The Berlin Times, perous metropolis, attractive for people aims to build journalistic bridges from all around the world. And Berlin is from Berlin to the wider world. still growing. Berlin is Germany’s capital The first English-language news- – there is no longer any doubt about that. paper published in Germany will re- But for a long time, the issue was anything port regularly from Berlin; we hope but clear. to establish an interested readership. It is important to remember that every- DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/JÖRG CARSTENSEN PICTURE DPA This edition offers a bouquet of vari- thing that makes Berlin what it is today is “When Berlin suffered, we received aid.” Mayor Michael Müller promises his city will ous articles by renowned writers. due to the Fall of the Wall and the return We hope you will enjoy it. now offer a safe haven and a future to refugees fleeing war and persecution. of a unified Germany. Only through these events did the perspectives arise that made So it was that joy at the Fall of the Wall Forum will be a cultural highlight noticed it possible for us to make Berlin what it and German Reunification was greatest around the world. Our city has an excellent is today – through enthusiasm and hard in Berlin. At the same time, it was in this chance of building upon the good times of work. divided city of millions that it was most the 1920s – Berlin’s golden era. The Wall was built in Berlin on Aug. 13, difficult to close the wounds left by the divi- Our gratitude for German unity leaves us 1961. It was opened in Berlin on Nov. 9, sion, to get the two parts, which belonged with a special duty. When Berlin suffered, 1989. The process of reunifying Germany together, to grow back together. Let this we received aid, most of it from the Allied was completed in Berlin on the historic remind us of the words of Willy Brandt, Powers. Our city has never failed to repeat evening of Oct. 3, 1990. without whose Ostpolitik – also partly the solidarity we experienced then. Berlin- The division of Germany was most pain- drafted by our sorely missed, recently ers have proven that they have a big heart. fully felt in the everyday life of our city. The departed honorary citizen Egon Bahr – And we are continuing to do so. Even now, Detlef Prinz Wall itself – and the barbed wire – made Berlin would not be in the position it is Berlin is undertaking a great effort to offer Publisher extraordinary demands on Berlin and its now. safe haven and a future to refugees fleeing inhabitants. Berlin and its citizens have achieved war and persecution – here in united Berlin. This is where the people experienced the much in these 25 years. Berlin is a young hardship of the Cold War right down to and creative city; future technologies and their personal lives. Think of the families new businesses are booming, new jobs are Michael Müller is Mayor of Berlin. divided, the friends separated. And let us being created, and Berlin is attracting clever remember those killed and injured, and all people from around the globe. Berlin is a the victims on both sides of the Wall. world-class city of culture. The Humboldt The Berlin Times is an international registered trademark of Times Media GmbH. All rights reserved. This edition has been produced in cooperation with DIE WELT and Berlin Partner for Business and Technology. Publisher & liable for editorial content: Detlef Prinz Printed in Germany by Märkische Verlags- und Druck-Gesellschaft mbH Potsdam, Friedrich-Engels-Straße 24, 14473 Potsdam © Times Media GmbH, Tempelhofer Ufer 23 – 24, 10963 Berlin, Germany. www.times-media.de 2015 3 FOTOLIA/SP4764 Opening doors Companies from 170 different countries have established headquarters in our city since the Fall of the Wall | By Eric Schweitzer erlin is a modern commercial city trade, opens doors for them to interna- many and Israel are celebrating 50 years at the heart of Europe, offering tional markets and underlines the strengths of diplomatic relations. Economic coop- corporations an ideal environment of Berlin as a business center with part- eration has grown hand in hand with the for their global operations. Com- ners abroad. Working in conjunction with intensification of political relations. Trade Bpanies from 170 different countries have the Association of German Chambers of and the exchange of business ideas have POPOW IMAGO/METODI established headquarters in our city since Commerce and Industry, the Berlin branch helped build bridges from a difficult past to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. About one in of the IHK represents the interests of its a shared future. Economic relations between twelve foreigners working in Berlin is at approx. 274,000 members with regard to Berlin and Israel have also developed at an least part-owner of a business. Berlin corpo- international matters. It is powerfully sup- extraordinarily dynamic pace – at last count rations are becoming increasingly successful ported abroad by the network of German trades volumes had reached approx. €190 in foreign markets. Products and services Chambers of Foreign Trade (AHK) at 120 million. Nevertheless, there is still potential Happy about Berlin’s high degree “Made in Berlin” are not only found in locations in 90 different countries. for further cooperation and new projects. of innovation, pioneering smart-city traditional marketplaces like the US and Berlin’s economy is characterized by a Our business delegation will use the clout solutions and its dynamic start-up community: Eric Schweitzer. France, but also in the growth markets of high degree of innovation, pioneering smart- provided by the one-of-a-kind IHK/AHK Asia and the Middle East. The continual city solutions and a dynamic start-up com- network to tap into this potential. increase in exports since reunification high- munity. Foreign partners have high regard lights the growing significance of foreign for Berlin expertise. Israel, like Berlin, is trade in Berlin: Between 1991 and 2014, setting its hopes on future topics like smart Eric Schweitzer is President of the exports nearly doubled from €7.2 billion cities, high-tech and start-ups, which is why Association of German Chambers to €13.3 billions. the Berlin branch of the IHK is currently of Commerce and Industry as well The Berlin branch of the German Cham- organizing a business delegation of Berlin as its Berlin branch. bers of Commerce and Industry (IHK) is corporations to visit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem playing its part in ensuring that this suc- in conjunction with AHK Israel. cess story is ongoing – it supports Berlin Our Berlin business delegation is visiting corporations in all matters related to foreign Israel at a very special time. In 2015, Ger- Launch pad to success Berlin is a unique city, a place to develop ideas and make them reality | By Stefan Franzke et me tell you a story – a story in them collectively into a unique city night- These new business ideas are growing a new three episodes – about the Berlin life. crop of small and medium-sized enterprises of the past, the present and the My second episode is set in the Berlin of for Berlin. THOMAS HEDRICH THOMAS future. Berlin is a city that has the here and now. The German capital’s The story of the future Berlin is especially Lconstantly reinvented itself throughout its start-up scene is more lively today than ever close to my heart.