The situation in Germany in the 1990s, when the reunification of the country occurred, was much more complicated than the one in Moldova today. In a video interview given to the IPN Press Agency, Angela Ganninger, Germany's Ambassador to Chisinau, has said that as regards the territorial unity of the Republic of Moldova, things are simpler when it comes to exchanges between the two banks of the Dniester.
"Germany in 1990 was physically divided. There was the wall, a wide strip with surveillance facilities, people could not leave the two countries, there were people who died trying to go west,” said the German ambassador.
Angela Ganninger has mentioned that it was important for Germany to assume its own history, its own past, to have a trusting relation with its neighbours and partners, and to take confidence-building measures between the East Germany and the West Germany. "We have done this for years," said the German diplomat, suggesting that the Republic of Moldova could learn part of this "lesson" in the process of reunification of the country.
The German ambassador has said that on October 3 the completion of a process is being marked, after which the Democratic Republic of Germany and the Federal Republic of Germany became the same country. "Formally, the GDR joined the FRG because the GDR's freely elected parliament decided so," said Anna Ganninger.
The ambassador has specified that since then Germany has 16 provinces instead of 11. "In addition, Berlin has been reunified, because the status of a city divided between the four powers which had won the war ended," said the German official.
Angela Ganninger mentioned that, after reunification, there was created the same rights area, which was very important for the GDR citizens. " The fundamental rights, the rights to free opinion and the media, the right to free movement are enjoyed throughout Germany. The internal secret services spying on their own citizens have been abolished,” said Angela Ganninger.
The German ambassador to Chisinau said that in the new lands of Germany, originally from the GDR, much was invested in infrastructure, roads, bridges and communications. "As a result, in the east, things are partly more modern today than in the west," said Angela Ganninger.
The German diplomat also listed some problems that emerged during the reunification of the two Germanies. "The eastern economy was not competitive after the political changes, and many people left the east to find jobs in the west. In the rural area only the elderly remained, the living conditions in the east became difficult. Things are not simple for many citizens,” said Angela Ganninger.
The video-interview given to the IPN Press Agency by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Moldova Angela Ganninger is part of "Relations of the Republic of Moldova with development partners" cycle supported by Hans Seiddel German Foundation.
