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How do you assess the current state of Czech-German relations?
“We have an absolutely exceptional relationship. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who by the way has been here twice in the last three years – which also means something – already said in 2021 that these are the best relations we have ever had. And it really is. We think alike on many issues, we share the same values – we see exactly the same, for example, competition policy or security, we are also really close allies within the EU… We have achieved what can truly be called friendship.”
But we don’t agree on everything…
“Yes, but now we are at a point where we can not only talk about things we agree on, but we can also talk openly about things we have different opinions on. And that, I think, is the best proof of our friendship.”
Is it just political proximity?
“I wouldn’t say. Our relations depend less and less on politics. Thanks to our common border, an incredible number of civic initiatives have emerged that work closely together. And not only that, cooperation between federal states and Czech regions, cooperation between partner cities or exchange of students and youth is also important. An incredible number of projects ensures that the Czech and German regions on the common border can increasingly develop together.”
German Ambassador Andreas Künne in an interview for Blesk | Blesk:Tonda Tran
Friends and partners
And what about the aforementioned political ties? Would you say they are over the top too?
“Certainly. When President Steinmeier was here at the end of April, it was clear that he has an extremely friendly and personal relationship with Mr. President Pavel. I have rarely seen politicians talking to each other so openly. This closeness is evidenced, for example, by the thank-you letters they both wrote to each other. They had a really friendly character that I had never seen before. And it’s not just for presidents. We have an incredibly diverse range of visitors here. Once every six months, the embassy has the task of writing down all those who have visited the Czech Republic from Germany on a political level and vice versa. Those lists have many, many pages…”
Which Czech-German projects do you consider the most successful?
“All that have concrete results. E.g. I am particularly close to the exchange of youth and students, when Czech and German students work together on a project, learn the languages of one and the other country, or study. This is extremely important. I will also mention, for example, the Czech-German future fund, thanks to which Czechs and Germans from different areas meet and can exchange their opinions and attitudes. These are extremely important projects. I can also remind you that the Musica non grata project ran here for four years, in which the State Opera cooperated, and thanks to which the music of composers who were murdered by the Nazis is being played again.”
On September 30, the embassy is preparing spectacular celebrations commemorating the dramatic events of 1989. The ambassador invites all interested parties to the Lobkovice Palace. | Blesk:Tonda Tran
Given the war in Ukraine, could we improve defense cooperation?
“In Germany it is often said that ‘what is better is the enemy of what is good’. The level is really good now, but it can definitely still improve. We have made incredible progress in military and security cooperation over the past two and a half years. I will mention, for example, that German Leopard tanks were donated to the Czech army in exchange for the Czech Republic providing its tanks to the Ukrainians. That was such a catalyst for military cooperation. And now there is a second similar initiative where the Czech Republic could buy Leopards. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As a long-term goal for the future, I would like us to even have joint units, just as there is a German-Dutch corps. This cannot be done overnight, but it is achievable.
And are there other areas of possible deepening of cooperation?
“We should really look at these possibilities regionally and also at the European level, because that’s the only way we have a chance in global competition. We could also work much more closely together in border areas. Maybe it would be great to travel for health care – if, for example, you live on the German side of the border and the nearest good hospital, specialized in certain diseases, is on the Czech side, or vice versa. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way yet. Of course, there are huge differences in the cost of care and medication on both sides, but that can be addressed. I am glad that something like this has been achieved in the transport connection, we will now build a high-speed railway line from Prague to Dresden, which is a fundamental step. Pilsen and Nuremberg will be next. There is still potential for improvement, but I repeat that we have now reached a level that we probably would not have dreamed of ten or fifteen years ago.”
The interview with the German ambassador was conducted by Blesk editor Daniel Kraus. | Blesk:Tonda Tran
Can Germany and the Czech Republic together »bring« Ukraine into the EU?
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“Both the Czech Republic and Germany want Ukraine to become a member of the EU as quickly as possible, but at the same time we also say that it must meet certain conditions. Accession to the Union is a process that is based on the fulfillment of given milestones. Both Czechs and Germans are trying to help Ukrainians with these. We also considered which regions in Ukraine we should support together, so I think we have already achieved a fairly close match.”
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Prague as a gate of freedom
The 50th anniversary of Czech-German diplomatic relations is approaching. How would you characterize this half century?
“From darkness to light. In 1974, when diplomatic relations between the Czechoslovak Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany were established, this was achieved under the most difficult conditions. On one side was our history, on the other side was the confrontation between the Warsaw Pact and the West. And in this situation, the so-called Treaty of Prague was created, which laid the foundation for modern Czech-German relations. It was not for nothing that it was one of the most complex treaties between West Germany and the East. At that time, we managed on both sides, despite many obstacles and conflicting interests, to make this contact and official communication possible at all. That was very, very difficult.’
So it wasn’t exactly warm until 1989…
“The period from 1974 to 1989 was not easy. All my predecessors enjoyed a lot of interest from the State Security at that time, they were never alone here. They were not even alone here in this house (embassy building – editor’s note). This in itself shows how little trust there was back then. And then came 1989, a fateful year for all of Europe. It took us until 1997 before we managed, thanks to all the great initiatives, including the efforts of Václav Havel, to start looking to the future together. The German side was not willing to say for a long time – let’s look ahead. Of course, the entry of the Czech Republic into the EU in 2004 was also an important step. Over time, our relations have become warmer and warmer.”
Thousands of people spent days and nights in the garden of the Lobkovice Palace. | Archive of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague
It is not the only anniversary that awaits us – on September 30 it will be 35 years since the events in 1989, when thousands of people fleeing the GDR sought refuge at the embassy in Prague. Abandoned Trabants became a symbol of this. How are these events remembered in Germany?
“It was deeply etched in the collective memory of the Germans. It was a significant event, especially for this embassy, for Lobkovicky Palace. In 1989, thousands of refugees from the GDR used it as a gateway to freedom. The speech of the then West German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher on the balcony of the embassy was a turning point that stuck with the Germans forever (he announced that the East Germans could go to the West – ed. note). Those familiar shots evoke emotions – abandoned Trabants, a dark garden, thousands of refugees, a poorly lit balcony. And it all happened very quickly, it broke out spontaneously, it was not professionally prepared in any way. It was really a matter of hours in which everything was decided.’
Do people ever ask you that? After all, you are the »lord« of the Lobkovice Palace.
“That speech left a really deep impression not only on me. When I have visitors from Germany, be it different groups or delegations, it’s incredible to see how many people still have tears in their eyes. And it’s not just those who experienced it then, but also people who were born much later and who were told about it by their parents. For many people, Genscher’s speech on the balcony of the embassy is still a very emotional moment. So I think it’s something that’s really ingrained in our memory.”
Abandoned Trabants became a memento of the events at the German embassy. | Archive of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague
Do you remember what you were doing then?
“Yes, I know exactly what I did that night and where I saw the speech. It was a very powerful moment. Of course, for me it was much more than just some quotes and speeches. The message was important. The year 1989 was simply fateful for the whole of Europe. Recently, we also remembered the Pan-European Picnic (a peaceful demonstration consisting of a three-hour opening of the border between Austria and Hungary – editor’s note), when people from both sides of the border said in August 1989 that they would take a risk and help each other find a way to freedom. The people’s desire for freedom was much stronger than the regime’s inertia.”
West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher upon arrival at the embassy in Prague | Archive of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague
The embassy wants to celebrate the anniversary at this year’s open day on September 30.
“Yes. This year’s thirty-fifth anniversary will be celebrated under the motto “Fest of Freedom”. And here it is necessary to properly celebrate and constantly remind oneself of its importance. Lobkovicky Palace was the gateway to freedom, so every corner of the embassy really comes alive. Partners from the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt will arrive, one of them, for example, will later in the evening transform the facade of the palace into a large video art work commemorating the anniversary. We will have live music here. We are preparing discussion panels with various interesting guests – be it historians, artists or even some politicians. And of course there will also be witnesses, some of whom slept on the stairs here in 1989. They will talk about what it was like for them then. In short, the whole afternoon and evening will be full of activities.”
2024-09-17 07:40:25
#relationship #Czechs #Germans #German #ambassador #Prague #Andreas #Künne
2024-09-17 07:43:39
#relationship #Czechs #Germans #German #ambassador #Prague #Andreas #Künne