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Claudia Roth: »What do you think it means when a Green Economics and Climate Minister has to go to Qatar to negotiate a gas supply contract until we become independent?«
Photo: ADAM BERRY / AFP
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth is calling for an open approach to Russian culture, despite Russia's attack on Ukraine.
In an interview with the "Augsburger Allgemeine", the Green politician said that a boycott was wrong because it was often the artists "who tried to maintain the last freedom".
In addition, Russian music and literature is great.
Referring to the well-known Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), the Minister of State for Culture said: "I'm not going to let Chekhov be taken away from me by Putin."
However, there is currently a great deal of uncertainty about how to deal with Russian culture.
A mayor in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, recently forbade a youth orchestra from playing Tchaikovsky.
However, the decision was withdrawn after a public discussion, said Roth.
"But the debate is raging, of course."
In the interview, Roth also spoke of the current challenges facing politicians in her party.
“What do you think that means when a green economy and climate minister has to go to Qatar to negotiate a gas supply deal until we become independent?” Roth asked.
Because of the war propaganda, independent media would be of particular importance.
Because of disinformation, fake and lies, people lose trust in information.
»We should all the more be aware of what makes our democracy rich.
That includes the fourth pillar of democracy, the independent media.
We are in the process of strengthening that.
We must do everything to ensure that democracy is not weakened.«
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