German Embassy in Türkiye marks 33rd anniversary of Unity Day

By Diyar Guldogan

The German Embassy in Türkiye on Tuesday celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the German Unity Day, which marks the reunification of East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Oct. 3 has been observed as a national holiday since the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) were officially reunited in 1990.

"Today, we are celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the reunification of Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall, and the fall of the Iron Curtain in a broader context was of tremendous importance for Germany, for Europe, and for the world," German Ambassador Jurgen Schulz said at the reception.

On Germany's relations with Türkiye, Schulz said the two countries are "very important" economic partners for each other.

"The bilateral trade volume of our countries has surpassed a record value of over €50 million ($52.3 million) last year. The human bridge between our countries remains very crucial for us. Today, more than 3 million people with roots in Türkiye live in Germany.

"It is precisely what makes the relationship between our countries something genuinely unique. With no other country in the world do we share this very special bond," he added.

Also attending the reception was Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, who said the reunification of Germany was a "pivotal" moment in world history.

"Today, as we celebrate the significance of the German Unity Day, we also cherish the strong relations between our countries. Germany is an important partner for us," Bozay added.

He said that the bilateral cooperation between Ankara and Berlin continues to thrive in various fields, ranging from trade and economy to culture and education.

"Türkiye and Germany have indeed interlinked in many dimensions through the Turkish community living in Germany. We are happy to see these links open up new horizons in every field," Bozay said.

Germany is one of Türkiye’s most important allies in Europe. The countries have multi-faceted relations, which include political, economic, military, and human dimensions with a long-standing background.

Approximately 3 million people of Turkish origin living in Germany constitute the human dimension of the bilateral relations. They have been making significant contributions to Germany's social and political life as well as economic prosperity for years.