Ministers, Excellencies, Dear colleagues, Distinguished Guests, liebe Landsleute,

It is a great honour and pleasure to address you today on the occasion of the Day of German Unity. Allow me to express at the outset my gratitude to all of you for joining us in marking this festive occasion and honouring us with your presence tonight.

On our National Day, we commemorate the reunification of Germany following decades of division during the Cold War. This day symbolises a new beginning and a new chapter in the history of my country that dealt with the realities of past divisions, borders and separation and set out the path of growing together again. This day is not only a celebration of German unity, but also a celebration of the foundations on which we want to build our future, in Germany, in Europe and beyond: peace, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and international cooperation.

Our history and our foundations shape the way we look at ourselves, and shape the way we look at the world. Germany is deeply committed to fostering peace, an inclusive political system and society, the rule of law and human rights, both at home and abroad. This is true for our engagement in Libya as well. Libya is a close neighbour of Europe. We care for what happens in Libya. It affects us directly.

Germany continues to stand by Libya’s side. We are fully aware of the significant challenges Libya has to overcome: division, political instability, armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and the imperatives to rebuild the State and the economy. Despite these challenges, we believe in Libya's future and its potential as a strong, unified, and prosperous Nation.

Germany has been and continues to be engaged in promoting peace and security through dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation in Libya. Our commitment was instrumental to organize the „Berlin Process“. The two Berlin conferences in 2020 and 2021 brought together international and Libyan stakeholders in an effort to establish a new political framework to address division and conflict.

Time has passed since then, and the geopolitical, regional and local contexts in which we operate have changed. But our initial commitment and our determination remain strong. We continue to support and strengthen inclusive political institutions in which conflicts can be addressed and resolved peacefully and which cater for the rights and aspirations of the Libyan people. For that, we work with partners, international, regional and local partners under the lead of the United Nations and its Mission to Libya.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,

I arrived only recently to Libya, after having served as Ambassador of Germany and of the European Union in Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. I have had no exposure to Libya in my diplomatic career before arriving here some three months ago. You will know that feeling: As a newcomer to a place, one is struck by issues and topics which stand out, which make a place unique, and different from other places. On the occasion of my first public speech in Libya since my arrival, I would therefore like to share some personal observations about the state of affairs in Libya. Allow me to highlight three topics, which have been at the centre of my discussions with Libyan partners and colleagues ever since I arrived: sovereignty, governance and equitable life opportunities. These topics are closely inter-linked, and they seem to be at the core of what could be addressed in Libya to make a difference.

First: Sovereignty

The Libyan people have a right to self-determination. Fully restoring the Sovereignty of Libya is a necessary precondition for exercising this right. This goal should be guidance and commitment for the Libyan people and the international community. The spirit of the Berlin Process was exactly about that: finding a way to restoring the full sovereignty of Libya. We should never lose sight of that goal and continue to work hand in hand to achieve it.

This requires both, the respect for the principle of non-interference into internal matters from the side of international actors, and a process of empowering Libya to exercise its sovereignty.

For Libya to be truly sovereign, it needs to overcome its political fragmentation and to develop the capabilities and resources to take and implement decisions in the best interest of it's people. This cannot happen without efficient State institutions, uncontested in their legitimacy, with clear mandates, competences, widely accepted and respected procedures of decision making and an effective monopoly of the State over the legitimate use of force.

Furthermore, exercising sovereignty in the best interest of the people requires an inclusive political system that caters for political dialogue, in which citizens have their word, and in which a common understanding is debated and established of where the Nation is going, what its place in a globalized world should be, and how affairs of the State, the Society and the Economy should be organised. The Libyan society, from all what I have learned so far, is less polarized than other societies, socially, culturally, religiously, morally rather homogeneous, and united by a sense of shared identity derived from years of hardship. To me it seems essentially well equipped to shape an understanding on these matters which can enjoy broad support and buy-in.

Second: Governance

Improving governance in Libya is of paramount importance for the future of the country. The task is daunting, but any progress on that path will benefit the Libyan people.

Upholding the principle of separation of powers between the legislative, the judiciary and the executive branches, respecting the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, strengthening accountable and transparent State institutions and an efficient State administration, creating the space for free and independent media and an active and constructive civil society – all this should be at the centre of our daily concern and work.

Germany has been supporting numerous projects aimed at strengthening governance and Libyan authorities, together with our Libyan partners. Our current program for empowering municipalities, implemented by GIZ, is one of them. We stand ready to deepen our cooperation in this context.

Third: Equitable life opportunities

Libya is a rich country. Rich in natural resources, in particular fossil energy.

Libya could also be a wealthy country with mesmerizing opportunities for all Libyans.

For now, there seems to be a large gap between those who have access to unlimited resources and those who have to struggle to make a living. Addressing that gap is a matter of justice, but would also set the Libyan economy on a more sustainable path.

Besides, I believe that Libya could benefit from a vison and a strategy for the future, how it should make use of its resources to address the challenges of a post-fossil world economy, and what strategic investments need to be done, in terms of infrastructure and in terms of human capital.

Libya has a young population, eager to learn, grow and perform. Libya has the means to provide the best possible education for them, to prepare them for a future which will be different from today, but no less competitive.

From my many discussions with German companies since I took up my new post, I can report that German companies are eager to return to Libya, ready to invest, to reconnect to partners with whom they created strong and occasionally emotional ties in the past. I sense a huge potential there, and I consider it to be a priority area of work for myself and the team of the German Embassy to tap into that potential.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,

On all three issues sovereignty, governance, and equitable distribution of life opportunities, we, Germany, alongside many like-minded partners in the international community, are not neutral. We have a position. We want to see a sovereign Libya, governed by the rule of law, which offers equitable life opportunities to all its citizens.

Sustainable progress will not be achieved over night. But we bring with us the patience and determination required to make progress and we stand ready to invest ourselves in working together with Libyan partners to make it happen.