Germany presents ‘position paper’ to Namibia

IN her reactions to most recent media reports, the German Embassy declares: 

“In July 2016 the Namibian Special Envoy, Dr. Zed Ngavirue, presented a document to the German Special Envoy, Mr. Ruprecht Polenz, which described the position of the Namibian Government for the German – Namibian negotiations covering the events during the years 1904 – 1907 of German colonial era and the conclusions to be drawn.

This document formed the basis for extensive deliberations by both Special Envoys during their respective meetings in early September in Berlin as well as the end of November 2016 in Windhoek.

During those deliberations the German Special Envoy responded by explaining in detail and great clarity the German assessment of the Namibian paper. Subsequently, both envoys agreed that Germany shall transmit this assessment also in writing to the Namibian Special Envoy.

On 27 June 2017, the German Ambassador to Namibia, Christian-Matthias Schlaga, presented the ‘German Position Paper’ to the Special Envoy of Namibia, Dr. Zed Ngavirue. The paper contains the detailed German assessment of the Namibian paper presented in July 2016. This development shows that the negotiations between Namibia and Germany are on track and shall continue with the next meeting of both countries’ Special Envoys in due course.