It truly seems to be
the new normality
with which I open this extended parliamentary meeting.
This does not mean
that we can just tick off 3 October in a routine fashion.
How could we?
We feel great joy
that the voluntary divide
has come to an end,
signalling our self-determination.
But this joy is mixed with the troubling question
of whether we will manage to consolidate unification
competently and swiftly enough.
It is crucial...
that solidarity...
which was frequently the focus of recent talks,
that solidarity is taken down
from the speaker's podium.
In the modern democracy,
solidarity must be understood
as a duty
of the stronger towards the weaker.
Let me add
a few more things to this.
Firstly,
in my view,
the statement that Berlin is merely a symbolic capital city
cannot be left at that.
Secondly,
the...
constitutional clearing up
of the SED's and its bloc parties' regime
and, above all, the unfortunate Stasi period,
must make quick progress.
But please, not as a fundamentalist witch hunt.
Thirdly...
Thirdly,
all voting citizens
should be included in the decision
on the constitutional foundation of our collective state.
This means... This means...
as soon as the time comes, we need a popular vote
on the adjusted and supplemented constitution.
"How new will it be?",
well-meaning foreigners may ask.
"How new"
"will the new Germany be?"
My answer:
"Nothing will ever be..."
"Nothing will ever again be the same as it was."
No, this will not be a nation state of the old kind,
but a republic that is built up federally,
and
a republic
that draws strength from communal autonomy.
A republic that has internationally defined borders.
How hard we once had to work for that.
Internationally...
defined borders.
A republic that once was embedded in Europe
in its current form.
And in its expanded form wants to take a considerable part in
the processes of European unification.
I do not have a high regard
of big-mouthed talk
about a German world power.
However,
taking part in European initiatives
that are also oriented towards other countries
is possible.
And it is necessary
to help prevent
Europe
from drifting apart once again.
Walls of mistrust and partition
must not be erected on the Oder-Neisse line, nor on the Bug River.
In my and my political allies' view,
we must first expand the EC,
as it has been agreed.
Secondly, we must help the whole of Europe to get to work.
Thirdly, we must make European peace a reality.
Fourthly, we must not forget the destitute people,
the damned of this Earth,
as we must not forget global environmental threats,
and fifthly...
And fifthly, we must make more out of the United Nations
than we have done so far.
My colleagues, my hope for us
is that we have a fruitful dialogue.
But most of all, I hope that we, as a people,
will be successful in our work
for the people that we are representing here today.