Interview with the Ambassador of Germany to Moldova Dr. Michael Zickerick

October 3, 1990 is a landmark day in the history of Germany. What was it like the way you recall it and how did you think it was going to affect your future life?

October 3 definitely is a very important date in German history. But there is another day, and that is the day when the wall came down on November 9 the preceding year 1989, that is really a very special day too because nobody expected it to happen, most people thought it would never happen in their lifetimes. Germans were really overjoyed. It was very touching to see those scenes: the initial moment when people from East Berlin and East Germany managed to drive across a border that had for so long divided people and where many unfortunately had lost their lives trying to cross it. October 3 then was made German national day because that was the day when the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist and joined the Federal Republic of Germany. That is really the day of unification between the two sides. We decided to make it our new national day even though the actual event was a year earlier.

Did I have any idea how it would affect my future life? Initially there were a lot of second thoughts: How is it going to happen? What will happen? Will it work out? Is it going to be a peaceful unification? Everybody was happy about it but very few people really knew what was coming their way. I was not much different from that even though it has as a matter of fact also had a very strong affect on my life because as you might know for diplomats it opened up new career possibilities. We jokingly used to say that you wake up in the morning and there is a newly independent country. So due to this event I have the privilege to be working and living in Chisinau today. The change was a very profound one but very few people at the time were aware of everything, saw it coming. There are people who claim this today but I doubt it very much. I remember I was in Washington DC at the time serving at our embassy there. It was not clear at all just what it really meant. It gave us a feeling something major was going to come up in our lives but where exactly it would take us to we did not know.

What part of Germany do you come from? How do the people of that region celebrate the Day of Unity?

Once you are in my line of work as a diplomat you do move around a lot. I was brought up in Bavaria but then I also spent a long time in the US where first I was an exchange student and where I studied later. But basically it was Bavaria and Munich. People there celebrate the day pretty much like all others. These days October 3 as a national holiday is celebrated like it is here in Chisinau, by a reception. In Germany a lot of people today are happy to take another day off. It is something that people have come to appreciate now and I think that’s very good.

Do you believe that for those who lived first under Adolf Hitler and then under the Communist regime, there still remains a psychological wall between them and those from West Germany?

It is probably on of the most tricky issues and difficult questions. Had you asked me a few months ago I would’ve said we have had talk in the past few years that there still is a wall in the minds and the heads of people. East Germany has not been developing at the same speed as we were all thinking and hoping. But now as strange as it may sound the recent very serious and severe flooding in Germany has changed that picture. One thought this would be regarded as just another catastrophe, but no, this wasn’t the case. What was really striking was help came from all people and in particular from people in the Western part of Germany. They were sending in all kinds of things, sending their fire brigades, and technical aid workers. It was a very good and encouraging sign of cooperation, therefore proving former chancellor Willy Brandt right who coined the phrase that “now we will see that what belongs together will grow back together.” It seems to me we are on this way not without problems, not without complaints on both sides but we are on the way.

Some of the stereotypes between what we call Ossies and Wessies (Ossie is someone from the East and Wessie is someone from the West) have been going around for too long, like the Westerners being very superficial, not always nice and sometimes bully-ish, and the East Germans always being the complainers. I think these stereotypes are undergoing change today and I think that’s good. People realize that they live in one country, that they share similar problems, and there is solidarity in case of a national catastrophe or national disaster. This points into a good direction: we are coming together. This will take time and it will take more than everybody thought initially.

Twelve years ago East Germans believed it would take six years for them to achieve economic and wage parity with their new countrymen from the west. Since then that hopeful prediction has changed to 22 years. Do you agree that it might take an entire generation for East Germany to catch up?

Mr. Kohl, chancellor before the present chancellor Schroeder, used to say that within five years we will see flourishing landscapes in East Germany and of course this didn’t happen quite like that and it didn’t happen as fast. Problems still remain and in many a way I think West Germans are now noticing that they need to be more aware of problems of East Germany and vice versa. It is not easy to change a mentality. Each side is thinking in certain categories and this needs to be overcome. But again I think we are on the way. I don’t know if it will take an entire generation to catch up. A lot depends on other decisions also, how the economy is going to develop, are we making wise choices. East Germany after the fall of communism got a lot of the most modern infrastructure, logistics, and telecommunications, so they have potentially a good starting position. However of course it is hard and as a Moldovan you probably can relate to this, in the middle of their lives people change from one system to the other.

It is a process that takes time it will often be unsatisfactory when we see how long it takes. We all need to do things to help in this process. What it takes from our point of view is not to be approaching this with the feeling that I know everything because I am a Westerner and we know what’s good for you, no, we need to hear both sides, we jointly need to work for a better future.

Being the German Ambassador to Moldova you are probably very familiar with the difficulties Moldova faces as the future European Union neighbor. What advice would you give Moldovans today on the basis of the German historic experience?

Certainly there are some interesting similarities but one should not and cannot overdo it here. Moldova is, as far as the transformation is concerned, basically in a similar situation: you transform your society. But then again the starting point is a different one and Moldova is an independent country. You did not break away from the Soviet Union to join another country say Romania, whereas in Germany the unification was almost a logical consequence. I would really like to make a point that this does not seem to be the case here. It is the Moldovan wish which way to go and you have a multi-ethnic composition of the society, you have a strong minority of Russians, Ukraineans, and others. Moldova has always been at the crossroads between these sides. So I think the situation in Moldova is a little different from what we’ve had in Germany.

The question of how to develop relations with Europe is a very important one. Europe is interested to have close and good relations with everybody and on top of this Europe, I mean the European Union of course, is open and keeping a door open for others to join. But of course this is a lengthy process. Right now there is a process of EU enlargement going on, which is a very difficult one, very costly and time consuming. Here everybody thought that initially in the early 90’s it would take four-five, maximum six-eight years before other countries would join. It became clear now that this is a much longer process. Also for Romania, your next-door neighbor, who wants to join the EU as well, it is still going to take time. As far as Moldova is concerned a lot will depend on how clearly you state your case and how clearly you make your choices and act on them. There are people here who say that they want to integrate into European structures and Moldova, I would like to underline this, is welcome to do this. But of course this also means that you have to set in motion a whole process and for this process you also have to prepare yourselves. The EU does have and must have an interest to include everybody in its format, and we are convinced that Moldova should take its place in the assembly of European nations that it deserves. But the initial decision we will have to leave to Moldova. In the mean time there is a lot of talk now that those countries that are not becoming part of the EU, at least not now, will be its future neighbors. This sounds nice but what does it mean? I think in the interest of all sides concerned, and I am saying all sides on purpose, we must all duplicate our efforts to try and find out what this will actually mean and what this will entail.

Moldovans as citizens of the country that is a ‘neighbor’ must think what it is that they might like to get from this. We need to fill this concept with content, if it’s not done, it will just be a euphemistic term and nobody will profit from it. It will be disappointing to both sides. I think that this will be one of the most important decisions that will come to this part of the world in the very near future and it is very important to know where you are going. It is really a Moldovan thing to see that you make the best of this and at times we wish that Moldovans used their chances a little more than they have been doing in the past. The Stability Pact is one of those chances, which are there and which should definitely be exploited. Moldova is a member of the Stability Pact but you need to pursue projects that are of interest to you more vigorously than in the past. I would like to encourage Moldovans to do that. Definitely nobody in Europe is sitting there waiting for Moldovan requests and this would not be different with any other country. It is really the Moldovans themselves who need to make their voices heard, not by going there and complaining, not by saying here’s our bank account number we need this amount of money, but by going there and learning the rules of the game, which are to have a good project, to be able to generate support for it, to talk to others, and to see how we can possibly do it, how we can get the maximum from it.

In your opinion has Germany profited from being a member of the European Union?

A: Germany is a founding member of the European Economic Union and definitely we would not be anywhere near where to where we are today had we not together with our European neighbors built what is the EU today. One of the most thrilling and challenging things has been the introduction of an all-European currency – the Euro. I know of no other county or group of countries in the world where this has ever been tried. It is not without difficulties because people need time for the change. Some want their old money back, be it the Deutsch mark, the frank, or the Spanish peseta because they think the prices have gone up and by the way they have, which is not good. But the Euro is a reality and I am convinced we will get used to it. We will all see that we spend to gain and profit from it. I am also convinced that those countries that are not yet members of the Euro zone, like the Brits, the Danes and the Swedish, will before too long join as well. Europe is moving closer together, which has to do with learning from history, understanding the lesson that we can only make it successfully if we are working together and overcoming our past differences.

Is it relevant to compare the Day of Unity in Germany to Independence Day in Moldova and in what ways? What are some of the similarities between our countries from this point of view?

It is important to realize that a country can have either a figure or relying coin of some kind. Moldova tries, this is my impression, to unite around Stefan cel Mare. It is important to have a person you can relate to. In Germany it is not so much a person, it is more a set of abstract ideas of unity.

What are some of the things you love most about Germany that you have been able to enjoy in this country as well?

For someone who has been here for two years I feel good, very good and I am happy to live here with you and amongst you. Moldova has a lot of charm and beauty that you do not discover when you come just for a casual visit. It is not that spectacular in terms of scenery, landscapes and landmarks, but it is very spectacular in terms of the people, their warmth and friendliness. Of course I am also touched by the unfortunately still existing poverty and very hard living circumstances. I would like to see this country getting into better shape. I would like to help a little bit with this not only on a general political level, being the German Ambassador here, but also in private action. I’ve met many people who I respect, who I like, people who have touched me personally and who have enriched my own life. You do want to give a little back and this is my hope for the time that I can spend in the country that I am able to contribute.

On the occasion of Unity Day how would you address your fellow countrymen resident or visiting in Moldova?

I usually have a speech prepared for an occasion like this and I am just now starting to think about what I will say. Maybe it will contain some of the things I have just said to you.

What are some of the social events scheduled by the embassy of Germany in Moldova for October 3?

We have an official reception on October 3 and then we have also a number of smaller meetings with people and friends. This is the way we are planning to celebrate. German National Day is only twelve years old, it’s a new thing and it’s more connected to our present history. We will see how it sinks into people’s minds. It should be a day when we rightfully rejoice about the fact that we have had the chance to reunite but we should also be modest.

We have always tried to encourage Moldova in her way to become an independent country that seeks to integrate itself in European structures. Moldova is still a very young country. We would like to see it flourish we would like to see Moldova do much better than it has been doing in the past ten years. This is necessary not just because we are all philanthropists, but it is our interest to overcome poverty. By no means should Moldova be at the bottom of all European countries as it is right now. I think it’s time to do whatever we can to help to get Moldova out of this situation!