German gives ENB 30 pictures taken during rule

GERMANY has given East New Bri­tain 30 photographs taken during its colonial rule between 1884 and 1914.
The photographs were taken over those years at Hebertshohe, now known as Kokopo, and Rabaul, then named Simpsonhaffen .
At a German photograph exhibition at the Cardinal Degenhardt convention centre in Vunapope,  German ambassador Dr Christopher Muller said there was no better way of telling stories than by showing pictures of what had happened in the past.
“The beautiful photographs of the exhibition let us relive the past and lead us towards the present and future where we are renewing our cooperation and friendship,” he said.
He said the two nations today enjoyed a different kind of cooperation.
Muller said the German rule in New Guinea did not last long but left many fond memories and stories to tell.
“In PNG, you have embarked on unifying your many people with so many languages who live in different islands and territories and in Europe, former enemies have embarked on the long road of forming a union,’’ he said.
He said great wars such as the one which ended German rule in Rabaul and Kokopo would not happen again.
European nations have already acted jointly and are represented together in PNG through the EU.
“Together through EU, we have helped build the new market in Kokopo. Through the EU and on its own, Germany keeps linked to the State and people of PNG, maintaining and deepening our friendship,” he said.
Muller said it was an honour to participate in the exhibition themed “Tupela Poroman: Old ties and new relationships”.
He said Germany and ENB province celebrated a renewal bond between the people in trade and the training of people from the province in Germany.
ENB deputy governor Boniface Setavo said the photographs displayed important programmes during the German colonial administration in German New Guinea.