Her Excellency Susanne Baumann was making her first visit to the island last week, having taken up the post last September. She also visited Alderney and was heading on to Jersey after her time in Guernsey.
‘I am pleased to have had the chance to visit Guernsey this week and to see the island as it prepared for the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day,’ she said.
‘It is important to me to learn from our history and to work on reconciliation.
‘It is very encouraging to see the close connection between the island and Biberach, which is significant as it increases people-to-people contacts.
‘I look forward to working together to defend our democracies and our shared values.’
Last month the Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, and States external affairs lead Deputy Steve Falla were in Biberach for the counter-signing of the friendship agreement between the town and the island, which was first signed in Guernsey on 9 May last year.
‘Our island, of course, shares a painful past with Germany, but having signed the Biberach-Guernsey framework of friendship arrangement here last Liberation Day, counter-signed in Biberach last month, we can formally acknowledge that past whilst looking to a hopeful future built on respect, cultural understanding and co-operation,’ said Policy & Resources president Lindsay de Sausmarez.
‘As we celebrate Liberation Day, I’m glad that we have had the chance to discuss with the ambassador the wider relationship between Guernsey and Germany, reflecting that our economy is strongly interlinked with Europe and that we have shared democratic values.’
Political discussions included Guernsey’s interests relating to the EU-UK Reset, trade, energy and financial services.
The ambassador also met with representatives from the Guernsey Music Service and students from the Guernsey Youth Orchestra.
The Music Service has previously arranged several trips for young musicians from Guernsey to visit and perform in Biberach.
She also laid a wreath at the German Military Cemetery at Fort George and had a tour around St Peter Port.
In Alderney she laid a wreath at the Hammond Memorial, erected to remember the slaves who were brought to the island to build the fortifications, visited the island’s museum, met States members and senior staff in the Island Hall, and was given a brief tour of the island by President William Tate.
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