Berlin Wall Exhibition in Phnom Penh

By Sok Lak

To commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall, the German Embassy of Cambodia and the German-Cambodian Cultural Center Meta House has organized an exhibition under the theme of the wall: a border through Germany on October 4 at German-Cambodian Cultural Center in Phnom Penh. There are 20 photos featured the

Dr. Wolfgang Moser, Ambassador of Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany 

“Berlin Wall”, which separated the German city in an eastern and western part, was the symbol of the Cold War. It was built in 1961 by the communist government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to prevent East Germans from escaping to the West. Around hundred people were killed and many more were seriously wounded trying to cross it. Most of the Berlin Wall has been demolished since the border between East and West Berlin opened in 1989. The seven paintings by A.K. Dietmann and Nikolai Todorovic also displayed at the exhibition.

“This event is to commemorate the 50 year of Berlin Wall which was construct in October 1961 and finally came down in 1999, but many people are forgotten this event.” Imaging Phnom Penh was separated by a war in which one side is one part of people and another side is another part of people. Therefore, we are happy after so many years the wall came down,” Dr. Wolfgang Moser, Ambassador of Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Phnom Penh told the Southeast Asia Weekly after opening ceremony.

He also said: that the relationship between Cambodia and Germany is very wonderful which both countries have a lot of things in common, support each other in many ways, have a good cooperation economic development, have a very good exchange of commercial goods in which Germany buy a lot of textile, garment and shoes from Cambodia. “It is not that both countries have a good exchange of culture as Meta House as example which is the only one beside French culture center to be here to present culture and performance.”

“As the economic in European, I think the impact from crisis on Cambodia is less, because Cambodia learned a lot of lesson and now Cambodia is getting more and more reliable on agriculture which means the country can export rice, sugar and other agriculture goods. Now Cambodia is much better position to face economic crisis. I am sure that international economic crisis will not has impact on Cambodia, Asian countries also have done well and I am also sure Cambodia will do well. In term of investment, he mentioned that Cambodia need to have skilled worker and more qualify worker. He suggested education is the first point Cambodia should start.

“I think couple of year, the Cambodia education will be better, and then Germany will be able look for investment, but the time being skilled worker and qualify worker is still main short coming for Cambodia. We are looking for future and I believe it will be changed,” he emphasized.

In the next year, as Cambodia become chairman of ASEAN, Germany support effectively to do very good job.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, October 8-15, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 41, Page 5