The German Community of the Multinational Corps Northeast invited honourable guests, colleagues and friends to commemorate together the anniversary of the reunification of the two German states. The official celebrations were held on October 2nd, 2008 at the Baltic Barracks.
A beautifully decorated gym in symbols referring to Germany and its 16 lands as well as music played by the Brass Player Quintet from the German Territorial Command Music Corps I welcomed all the guests. Among them there were representatives of the local authorities, diplomacy and the uniformed, but also members of the Headquarters and its flanking formations and organisations, families and friends. Just like the year before, it was Brigadier General Josef Heinrichs, Chief of Staff of the Multinational Corps Northeast, who welcomed and addressed all the gathered. In his speech he recalled the events of October 3rd, 1990 when the two German states reunited after "a peaceful and successful revolution" into the Federal Republic of Germany.
This year’s celebrations were given the motto: "the Germans are the nation of cultures". "Rich cultural diversity of my country is related to its variety", General Heinrichs emphasized and explained that 16 German lands reflect various regional development rather than administrative divisions. And that development, driven by diversity and competition, refers not only to economy but also to culture. As a matter of fact, diversity is also one of the features of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast. After all, ten nation cooperate here on daily basis. "We have various experiences collected in our family homes, during the course of education, professional work and we try to implement them while working creatively on possible solutions", stated General Heinrichs. MNC NE personnel being accustomed to variability of cultural backgrounds easily integrates into the community, like during the mission in Afghanistan or the recently accomplished exercise Crystal Eagle, in which representatives of 18 nations took part.
Neighbourhood for common benefit
Mr Bartłomiej Sochański, Honorary Consul of Germany, also took the floor and mentioned the great effort that had to be taken to create a democratic, efficient and well-operating state. But it has been a success since Germany has become one of the pillars of the European Community. Mr Sochański emphasised the cross border aspect and good neighbourhood between Germany and Poland, especially in the context of Szczecin and the Westpomeranian Region, which have always been inextricably related to Germany. Good relations and cooperation act for the common benefit, as he said. And the example of that in a more global sense can actually be functioning of the Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin, summarized Mr Sochański.
