![]() ![]() This is why we cannot accept a victor’s peace in Ukraine. After all, living in peace, security and freedom is about more than the absence of war. We’re witnessing this in a dramatic way right now. But creating peace is not the same as living in peace. ![]() This is precisely when civilian infrastructure is needed all the more.Īnd peacekeeping remains our primary goal even at this moment when we’re supplying weapons. But Ukraine also needs food, humanitarian assistance, hospitals and water supplies – in the long term, and especially when, hopefully, the war has finally ended. We have recently delivered self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems. It only works in tandem, and one must always complement the other. After all, military engagement and civilian commitment isn’t a question of either/or. We have had a discussion in which people asked whether 100 billion more for the Bundeswehr means 100 billion less for the civilian sector. However, the situation in Ukraine underlines the fact that providing both military investments and civilian resources is not a contradiction in terms. Together with our transatlantic partners, as you know, we’re investing in equipping the Bundeswehr, in our security. And this means that we want to expand this work. This is why we’re here not only to pay tribute to you and to thank you, but also to underscore how important, how dangerous and how valuable your work on the ground is. However, when reaching these decisions, the most important thing isn’t that politicians do take decisions, but that we hear what people like you experience on the ground in your day-to-day work. What does this mean for the police officers there? And this underlines once again that, in retrospect, everyone always knows how things should have been done. We three ministers faced precisely such a situation when we discussed how long our German Embassy on the ground would remain open. How long can the mission remain in the region? When should you withdraw? ![]() This shows in a dramatic way how difficult not only your missions are, but that it means, time and again, weighing up individual cases. Now, 120 days after the war of aggression in Ukraine began, we face a situation in which we have no idea whatsoever when OSCE observers will ever be able to return. You later had to withdraw, and one of your members of staff lost her life. And, of course, we focused most intensively on the situation back then. All of the reports and accounts that you sent to us in those months had already made it clear what a fragile and dangerous situation our observers were in on the ground.Īnd I’m most delighted that Mr Hulde is able to attend. And my first visit – and this was a most deliberate choice – was to the headquarters of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.Īfter all, while we didn’t know what was going to happen in the months to come, it was clear how important this OSCE mission was. On a cold morning in January, I was in Kyiv for the first time as Foreign Minister. When I found out who we’re paying tribute to here today, I recalled a moment at the beginning of this year. ![]()
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