City of peace Osnabrück

Many times I have stayed in Osnabrück, but rarely twice in one year, and this year, after a first visit in the spring at the time of the impressive peace demonstration at the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine, now in September I was even given the special honor of putting my name in the Golden Book of the City of Peace!

It is also unforgettable that I was allowed to sign the book in the historic Peace Hall of the Town Hall, where after the 30-year war in 1648 the Peace of Westphalia was signed almost 375 years ago – and that in the present and according to the beautiful introductory words of the Lord Mayor Katharina Pötter – a female personality!

Their welcome honored me very much – as well as on the evening of the same day, when the 40th anniversary of the successful Action Center Third World was celebrated and I was allowed to be guest of honor. Once again, the presence of the Lord Mayor testified to the dynamism that the good cooperation between the city and society has developed for the culture of peace in the region.

For me, both are a symbol that there is only one world in which all people must stick together in order to secure our common future.