Atlantic Ball
Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr.
Düsseldorf, February 15, 2008
Dr. Huth, Friends and Members of the Steuben-Schurz Society,
Thank you for the invitation to attend the annual Steuben-Schurz Atlantic Ball. Unfortunately, last year we had to cancel because of the Munich Security Conference. This year I am happy that somehow the organizers got together to coordinate the scheduling of these two important events. They are both in their own separate ways symbolic of the strength of the German-American relationship.
The Munich Conference on Security Policy looks back on a tradition of almost four decades. It was established at the height of the Cold War. It is interesting to note that while European security issues used to be the order of the day, global security issues are front and center on the transatlantic agenda. That was certainly reflected in the discussions last weekend. The main topics were NATO enlargement and Afghanistan. The end of the Cold War, when nations across Eastern Europe gained their independence, was a time of change for the Alliance. Not only was the question how enlargement could secure the wave of democracy sweeping across the region, NATO was also pondering the concept of collective self-defense in a post- Cold War world. Afghanistan embodies the security challenges that have emerged since that time. The mission in Afghanistan is unprecedented. It is, in fact, NATO’s first ground war and it is dramatically different than anything NATO has done before. However, it also falls squarely within the traditional bounds of the Alliance’s core purpose: to defend the security interests and the values of the transatlantic community.
Historic decisions led to the building of this global partnership with a Europe that is now whole, free and at peace. Vision, leadership and sacrifice accompanied those decisions. Think back sixty years to the days of the Berlin Airlift. Remember the spirit in which NATO and what was to become the European Union was born. Germany is the heart and soul of those institutions. It was around Germany’s struggle that they were formed.
Think back also sixty years to the days when your club was established. In difficult times, it is essential to focus not just on common threats, but also to emphasize common interests and common values. That is what your club – and the network of strong German-American organizations – has done. Your work has made a difference.
But just as the strategic context of the transatlantic partnership has changed, requiring us to implement new procedures and mindsets, it is necessary for the people in the partnership to continue to reach out to the world in a spirit of friendship. I know the Steuben-Schurz Society continues to do just that, looking for ways to magnify the possibilities for dialogue and exchange. This club has been very innovative in pulling in the private sector in the development of internship and other youth exchange programs, and I commend you for that.
It was here in Düsseldorf that Windows on America, a new Embassy exchange initiative, was born two years ago. The Consul General at the time, George Knowles, and his wife introduced Sue and me to Johanna Kaup, a dedicated teacher who had a dream of bringing her students to America. They were not your standard exchange students. They came from immigrant backgrounds. They were not university-bound. Johanna Kaup’s dream came true, thanks to the initiative and commitment of the private sector here in Düsseldorf and organizations such as the Steuben-Schurz Society. We are now in the process of creating an organization that will ensure that the Windows on America dream lives on.
It is in that spirit of openness and commitment that this year around the country, we will be celebrating a new chapter in the unique story of postwar German-American cooperation. In 1999, the American Embassy moved from Bonn to Berlin. This spring, we will be moving into a beautiful new building, returning to our pre-World War II location on Pariser Platz beside the Brandenburg Gate. I think of this as the closing of a cycle that extended back to the time when we were enemies at war, through the long Cold War years of division, the process of reunification to the state where we are today as global partners. Our new Embassy is not just another building. It demonstrates the commitment of the United States to partnership with the nation of Germany and the people of this country.
The Grand Opening of the Embassy will be part of our official 4th of July celebration in Berlin. We will have very senior officials speaking on behalf of the United States and Germany. It will be an historic occasion. We are also working with partner organizations to support their staging of a public day-long Amerika Fest at the Brandenburg Gate on July 5. This festival will highlight the vitality of contemporary American culture, sports and entertainment. In addition, by drawing attention to such landmark events as the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, it will celebrate both the history and the future of the German-American relationship.
The opening of the new U.S. Embassy building is not only an important occasion in Berlin. All across Germany and throughout the year, we will be celebrating our partnership with a series of programs that will underscore the same fundamental theme – the enduring strength of the German-American relationship, government to government and among our people.
The official host of the planned public festival on July 5 is the Federation of German-American Clubs. The Federation was founded in the immediate post-war period. Like the Steuben-Schurz Society, it is also celebrating its own 60th anniversary this year. As I said before, the ongoing dedication of such clubs to dialogue and exchange sends a powerful message about the foundation and future of German-American relations. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Federation of German-American Clubs, but also the Steuben-Schurz clubs, for the active role organizations such as yours play in shaping German-American relations.
Thank you again.
