Sixty years ago in November 1954 his Great Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I., Jah Ras Tafari, visited our institution in Reinbek/Bergedorf (Bundesforschungsanstalt für Holz- und Forstwirtschaft - BFH). As a part of an important visit to political elites in the ancient capital of the FRG, Bonn, His Imperial Majesty was especially interested to inform about agricultural and forestry and wood related fields of science. Despite of a overwhelming historical weight, caused by the Nazi conspiracy with the fascist in Italy during their attack on Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I. has been the first leader of a nation to step on the ground of Germany after the terrible events of the war. A press 'report' has been published by the Spiegel Magazin. It reveals some drastic diplomatic faults in the protocol. 

Since then, the Bundesforschungsanstalt für Holz- und Forstwirtschaft, today called Thünen Institute, underwent a lot of changes and influences. However, 60 years later, I want to take this as a motivation to wake the interest in Pan-African issues, especially regarding our forestry and wood technology subject. Without any doubt, Africa will be the continent of the 21st century. Let us hope, that the wicked will hush, while the blessed raise their voice!

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-28957830.html