KARACHI, Oct 12: The Goethe Institut reopened on Tuesday after a gap of more than two years. It was closed in May 2002 for security reasons.

Conceding that Pakistan was not one of the easiest regions of the world, German ambassador in Islamabad Dr Christoph Brummer said that East might be East and West might be West, but they would, hopefully, come together at the Goethe Institut.

Denouncing the notion of "clash of civilizations", he said a constructive clash of ideas would take place at the German cultural centre. The Senate chairman, Mohammadmian Soomro, expressed joy over the resumption of cultural activities at the Goethe Institut, and said that it would provide the people of Karachi with a forum where they could loosen up, indulge in creative exchange and renounce extremism.

The German consul general, Verena Grafin von Roedern, recalled that the old building of the Goethe Institut had been abandoned for security reasons. She said: "The new building is more suitable and, what's more, it is earthquake-resistant."

The director of the Goethe Institut, Dr Petra Raymond, said: "The Goethe Institut in Karachi is one of our oldest institutes and it has been engaged in fruitful cultural liasion work with our esteemed partners and friends for more than four decades during which we have established understanding and trust among each other. Today, after the Cold War and the events of 9/11, the continuation of our cultural exchange work has gained even more importance," Dr Raymond said.