Dear Federal Minister Dr. Schäuble,
dear Minister-President Platzeck,
Lord Mayor Jakobs,
dear Lord Weidenfeld,
ladies and gentlemen,

Globalisation as chance, globalisation as challenge -
the discussion, in which Germany is currently taking part as well, moves between these two poles. The handling of this issue has a decisive impact on how this country projects itself to the outside world, more still, how it is perceived by its neighbours. You debated a complex partial aspect of this today. How should the dialogue between Europe and the Middle East be conducted? How can we succeed in the reciprocal portrayal of cultures in the media of the respective cultural areas? You searched for answers to these and other questions. Not an easy task as the topic from a European perspective touches on the individual, entrepreneurial autonomy and the concept of freedom, but also values such as respect and tolerance. Ultimately it is about responsibility.

A regional initiative such as “Germany - Land of Ideas” cannot close its mind to these questions; it does not want to either. Because out of this challenge arises its claim: to cast a sharp eye on a differentiated authentic image of a culture, a society, a country. This is why we are pleased that you held this Colloquium in our country - an important discussion whose results we are eagerly awaiting.