Mr. President,
Consular Heads,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very happy to welcome you here at Nienstedten. And today, I am twice as pleased to be here with you. After all, I can do two things, so to speak, in concurrence. On the one hand, I am able to take part in the annual excursion of the Consular Corps. At the same time, I can pay an official visit to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. And I certainly appreciate both of these.
I am very pleased to see so many familiar faces from the Consular Corps together again, after a relatively short period time. After all, it has only been a few months since the annual dinner.
This is not the right date or the right moment for a review of the years events, as at your annual new years reception. After all, we dont yet really know how this year, 2011, will be seen in retrospect on a global level and from the point of view of your own countries. Some regions of the world are in the midst of difficult processes of change, that in some cases go as far as dramatic political upheavals. Others have been devastated by horrendous natural disasters. In still another way, the European Union and its common currency are also in rough seas at the moment. At the end of the day, as we have recently experienced, turbulence in the global financial system can impact all regions and all countries in the world.
All of you will undoubtedly have been following the recent news regarding the political debate on the European Stabilization Fund and the Euro, the common currency of 17 countries in the European Union. The Euro is not merely a symbol, not just some kind of abstract European fabrication. Here in Germany, too, it is our currency and the foundation for our prosperity. We would do well to take care of the Euro, and we will do so. I am an optimist. And I am even more of an optimist since we were able to make progress last week through solution-oriented debates and resolutions in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany will do its part to ensure that all of the member states of the European Union are in a position to solve their debt problems.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The foundations of our prosperity here in Hamburg are, of course, based on factors you are all familiar with: the port, the large range of services, many of which are connected with the port, the broad palette of small and medium-sized businesses, the industry. The old technologies which means those that have been known for decades, but continue to develop and the new technologies, which are revolutionizing many aspects of our business activities and even our lives. The MITT sector in Hamburg now accounts for more than 20,000 companies and if you include the freelancers more than 100,000 jobs.
And the newest highlight is that Hamburg can also call itself the capital of wind power in Germany, especially since Siemens AG decided to set up their new wind power headquarters here in Hamburg. Modern environmental policies and innovative environmental protection technology have long been among our strengths. Our city is in good shape, and I am not promising too much when I assure you: In Hamburg, you will continue to have a dynamic and highly interesting environment for your consular work.
What I unfortunately cannot promise for the future none of us can is that diplomacy and politics will always be able to navigate the world through the calm waters each of you and each of us wishes there to be. And as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea wishes in its own realm with the clearly defined, internationally accepted legal means at its disposal.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was established, the basic idea was to create a new international culture of dispute resolution in maritime law. The Tribunal has been located in Hamburg since 1996, since 2000 in this building. It was officially dedicated by Kofi Annan, who was the Secretary General of the United Nations at the time.
This institution has great meaning for Hamburg as a maritime trade and port city. It was the first legal body of significance from the broad scope of the United Nations to establish its headquarters on German soil. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea incorporates the global expertise on maritime law. The Tribunal for the Law of the Sea along with the International Foundation for the Law of the Sea thus strengthens Hamburgs position as a centre of knowledge.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You will be learning more about the work of the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea here, and receiving more detailed information about it, such as in the presentation that follows. In any case, you, Mr. Yanai, as the newly elected president of this institution with its great importance for the seven seas and for Hamburg will have plenty of work ahead of you. I would like to extend my congratulations to you on your election and wish you the greatest of success.
I wish the same for all of you who are present today. Hamburgs international character would not be possible without the Consular Corps. You, ladies and gentlemen, are the link between Hamburg and the rest of the world. You play a significant role in making our city as liberal, open-minded and tolerant as it is, and in facilitating its intensive economic, cultural and personal international contacts.
For today, I hope that you will continue to gain interesting insights, have stimulating conversations, and for this is an outing enjoy a welcome change from your day-to-day work.
Es gilt das gesprochene Wort.