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Germanyin the United Nations for 40 years
Germany will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the accession of both German States to the United Nations with a ceremony on Wednesday 18 September 2013. In this regard Foreign Minister Westerwelle issued the following statement in Berlin today:
When it joined the United Nations in 1973, Germany was officially welcomed back into the fold as a recognised member of the international community. Our engagement in the United Nations is an integral part of German foreign policy. Worldwide peace, security and development can only be attained through the United Nations.
In our view, the United Nations continues to carry out a key function in international policy. Therefore it must adapt to the world of today and finally be prepared to reform, otherwise it will lose authority. Germany wants to counteract this.
During the ceremony which will be opened by Foreign Minister Westerwelle, a panel discussion on international policy will take place with the former Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher and the former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Töpfer. Moreover the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, is expected as a speaker.
A conference organised by the United Nations Association of Germany (UNA Germany) on “Germany’s role in the United Nations” will follow the official ceremony.