It is a great pleasure and privilege for my wife and myself to welcome you all today. We appreciate that you join us in the celebration of the tenth Anniversary of German Unity which occurred on October 3, 2000.

Most Germans look back on these past ten years with pride and with a certain amount of satisfaction. All of us know that the German Unity became possible thanks to the vision of Mikhail Gorbachev who introduced glasnost and perestroika in the former USSR and thus broke the ground for major political changes in Eastern Europe. As well it can be attributed to the courage of the then Foreign Minister of Hungary, Mr. Gyula Horn, who allowed that the iron curtain at the Hungarian-Austrian border was cut through, despite the fact that Hungary was still under pressure from the other Warsaw Pact members. Thus thousands of citizens of the German Democratic Republic were able to turn the back to communism first in Hungary, later in the Czech Republic.

A timewise narrow window of opportunity, however, of historic dimensions opened which was willingly used by Chancellor Kohl and Foreign Minister Genscher who together with our friends and allies managed to conclude the famous 4 + 2 Treaty. It formed the base for the agreement on German unity between both German entities leading finally to Germany's unity on October 3, 1990. But we must bear in mind that the politicians finalized only what the citizens of the former German Democratic-Republic initiated when they took to streets by their hundred thousands at the end. It was the first and only successful revolution in Germany and a peaceful one.

Since then a combined effort of the German government and the German people as a whole led to a remarkable development in the so-called "Neue Bundeslgnder". However, despite of the hundreds of billions of Deutsch Marks transferred so far, we have not achieved yet our common objective to balance out living conditions in the east and the west of our country. After 12 years of Nazi dictatorship and more than 40 years of separation we Germans realize that we need at least one generation to see emerge one nation from the mentality point of view. But there is the unbroken will to live up to this challenge and to accomplish this immense task.

1990 was, however, also an important year for Southern Africa: Namibia, for a long period under control of this country, became independent and Nelson Mandela after 26 years of imprisonment was finally released. F.W. de Klerk and others becoming aware of the turn of the tide worldwide and realizing that an Apartheid

driven South Africa would not have a chance to survive in the new environment, they courageously initiated dialogue which finally led to a new South Africa in 1994.

Lesotho gained from this development and is placed now in a secure political environment.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany continues its development support to Lesotho by means of technical aid. It is fitting that this occasion is coinciding with government to government consultations which will deal also with the current

and future prioritisation of the development cooperation between our two countries. Since its inception the overall German aid programmes have reached the sum of more than 1,1 billion maloti.

The participation of Lesotho in the Expo 2000 fair in Hannover and the visit of His Majesty, King Motiotlehi Letsie III to Hannover on

the occasion of Lesotho day were highly appreciated and stand for the close and friendly relationship between Germany and Lesotho.

Since then a combined effort of the German government and the German people as a whole led to a remarkable development in the so-called "Neue Bundeslgnder". However, despite of the hundreds of billions of Deutsch Marks transferred so far, we have not achieved yet our common objective to balance out living conditions in the east and the west of our country. After 12 years of Nazi dictatorship and more than 40 years of separation we Germans realize that we need at least one generation to see emerge one nation from the mentality point of view. But there is the unbroken will to live up to this challenge and to accomplish this immense task.

1990 was, however, also an important year for Southern Africa: Namibia, for a long period under control of this country, became independent and Nelson Mandela after 26 years of imprisonment was finally released. F.W. de Klerk and others becoming aware of the turn of the tide worldwide and realizing that an Apartheid

driven South Africa would not have a chance to survive in the new environment, they courageously initiated dialogue which finally led to a new South Africa in 1994.

Lesotho gained from this development and is placed now in a secure political environment.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany continues its development support to Lesotho by means of technical aid. It is fitting that this occasion is coinciding with government to government consultations which will deal also with the current and future prioritization of the development cooperation between our two countries. Since its inception the overall German aid programmes have reached the sum of more than 1,1 billion maloti.

The participation of Lesotho in the Expo 2000 fair in Hannover and the visit of His Majesty, King Motiotlehi Letsie III to Hannover on the occasion of Lesotho day were highly appreciated and stand for the close and friendly relationship between Germany and Lesotho.

Liebe Landsleute,

aus guten GrCinden haften wir Deutsche es uns nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg abgew6hnt, nationals Gedenktage zu begehen. Der Fall der Mauer und die kurz danach erfolgte friedliche und volistgndige Wiedervereinigung sind Ereignisse von historischer Bedeutung, die im besonderen WOrdigung verdienen, auch wenn daran viele von uns - trotz Glasnost und Perestrolka - kaum noch zu glauben wagten. Noch ist die Einigung nicht vollstdndig volizogen, obwohl hierfor enorme volkswirtschaftliche Mittel aufgewandt wurden und fcjr viele Jahre n6t!g bleiben. Besonders wichtig ist jedoch, dam sich auch die BCjrger der alten und der neuen Sundesiander m6glichst bald wieder als ein Volk verstehen.

Lassen Sle mich deshalb zum Schlug zwei Biften augern:

=Haben Sia Verstandnis dafor, daft die Leistungen des deutschen Staates for BUrger im Ausland wie im Inland begrenzt werden mossen und auch fcir Schulen und Vereine nicht mehr so reichlich flieften k6nnen. Das hat nicht nur mit der Vereinigung zu tun, sondern auch mit dem weftweiten Strukturwandel.

=Nutzen Sie Reisen nach Europa auch zum Besuch der neuen Bundesldnder: Die OstseekCiste, die Mecklenburger Seenplatte, die Mark Brandenburg und das Elbsandsteingebirge stehen dem Harz oder Schwarzwald, den Nordseeinseln, den bayerischen Alpen an Sch6nheit nicht nach.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

May I ask you now to raise your glasses to the health and well- being of His Majesty, King Motiotlehi Letsie III and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Johannes Rau, as well as to the further fostering of the friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Lesotho and Germany.