Reden | Speeches | Discours

Reden von Botschafterin Marie Bernard-Meunier
Speeches by Ambassador Marie Bernard-Meunier
Discours par l' Ambassadeur Marie Bernard-Meunier

Sehr geehrte Frau Roth,
sehr geehrter Herr Lauer,
dear Mr. Elliot,
dear Mr. Kelly,
dear friends,

I am very honoured to be here in Frankfurt today and to be part of Lufthansa’s initiative to christen one of its airplanes after two Canadian cities, Gander and Halifax. It is a fitting tribute to the citizens of these communities and the role they played in the aftermath of the events of September 11.

Lufthansa is an important partner for Canada. Lufthansa was the launch customer for Bombardier’s CR Regional Jet and Lufthansa City Line has now ordered more than 60 aircraft. With its Canadian partners Bombardier and the CAE, it operates a flight simulator centre which I visited just recently. Also in Berlin, Lufthansa and Bombardier are engaged in a successful joint venture for maintaining corporate aircraft.

Lufthansa is also an important partner in promoting Canada as a travel destination and in bringing large numbers of German tourists to Canada. On Monday this week, Lufthansa and Air Canada, together with their partners, celebrated the 5^th anniversary of the Star Alliance.

I am delighted - and also exceptionally proud, I must add - to greet my fellow Canadians here: the delegations from Gander and Halifax. In the immediate aftermath of the horrifying terrorist attacks on New York and Washington last September, a total of 252 flights with 43,895 passengers were diverted to Canadian airports. Today, we celebrate and honour the people of Gander, Newfoundland and of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The citizens of these cities are outstanding examples of the warm-heartedness and selfless commitment Canadians all over the country showed in the face of the tragedy in the United States. Within a few short hours, the town of Gander received 39 jets carrying some 6,500 passengers which is more than half the city’s population. Likewise, Halifax immediately responded to the needs of some 7,200 people who arrived in 42 aircraft.

Ich möchte diese Gelegenheit heute aber auch nutzen, um den Menschen hier in Deutschland meinen Dank für Ihre Hilfe auszusprechen. Wie für viele andere Menschen gab es auch für kanadische Touristen und Geschäftsreisende keine Möglichkeit, während des 11. September und der folgenden Tage planmäßig zurück nach Hause zu fliegen. Viele Kanadier, die zu der Zeit in Deutschland unfreiwillig, fassungslos und oft orientierungslos festsassen wurden durch die deutsche Bevölkerung so prompt mit Wort und mit Tat unterstützt. Von Ihnen wurde die Bitte um diesen Dank an mich herangetragen. An all die helfenden und stützenden Menschen in Deutschland möchte ich das Dankeschön dieser Kanadier nun weiterleiten.

As cruel as the attacks on September 11^th were, they also helped us discover that generosity and fellowship are still alive. For us all, I hope that this generosity and human kindness will continue to pave the way for our future journeys. Ich wünsche dieser Lufthansa Maschine sowie seinen Passagieren alles Gute und viel Sicherheit auf Ihren künftigen Reisen.

Thank you, merci und vielen Dank.

BOTSCHAFT VON KANADA
EMBASSY OF CANADA
AMBASSADE DU CANADA
Friedrichstraße 95 | 10117 Berlin
Tél.: (+49-30) 20312-0 | Fax: (+49-30) 20312-121

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