Dear Readers,

The rising tide of hatred towards foreign nationals in Germany has shocked and horrified broad sections of the community here. Daily reports of attacks on people who have turned to our country for protection and asylum bear witness to the crude racism currently at large in our society. Gangs of right-wing thugs are destroying the climate of peaceful coexistence with people of different colours and creeds which the Federal Republic of Germany has always enjoyed. This situation has given us, the staff of GATE/GTZ, profound cause for concern.

Both our work in development cooperation and our private contacts with people from many countries of the world have taught us that mutual trust, based on respect and tolerance, are absolutely essential if we are to live and work together in peace and harmony. Nothing must be allowed to damage this spirit of trust.

We, the staff of GATE/GTZ shall be doing our absolute utmost to ensure that people from other countries can continue to live in Germany and to feel at home here without having to fear for life and limb. We shall fight to make sure that racism and nationalist hysteria do not take root in German soil a second time.