For Federal President Steinmeier it was a day of friendly tones in Poland.
But Warsaw insists on concrete actions by its large western neighbor, which should show that reconciliation is progressing.
Warsaw (dpa) - Germany and Poland want to deepen their relations despite existing disagreements.
The German-Polish neighborhood is "one of the great European success stories of the past 30 years", said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday after consultations with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Warsaw exactly 30 years after the signing of the German-Polish neighborhood treaty. Duda emphasized: "As a result of these 30 years we are intertwined today - in the most positive sense of the word."
Duda said reconciliation between Poland and Germany must continue to be a shared, ongoing task. However, concrete actions are also necessary for this. He demanded the opening of the planned memorial site for Polish Nazi victims in Berlin by 2024 at the latest. “I would like us to (...) unveil such a memorial not later than 2024, on the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. “Steinmeier said it would be a memorial in the heart of the city.
At the end of October, the Bundestag voted for the planned documentation center to commemorate the Nazi occupation policy in Europe to have a dedicated memorial for Polish victims.
There are still discussions about the exact location.
The German invasion of Poland in 1939 marked the beginning of World War II with at least 55 million dead - other estimates put up to 80 million.
There are no exact numbers.
According to estimates, up to 6 million people died in Poland alone.
Like two neighboring farms
Duda demanded that both countries return to dialogue about the loss of stolen cultural goods. There is also an “asymmetry” in dealing with the German minority in Poland and people of Polish origin in Germany. From the Polish point of view, it is not correct that this group, which includes around two million people, does not have the status of a minority in Germany. Poland and Germany are like two neighboring farms whose owners sometimes have controversial questions, "but are generally ready to marry their children together".
Steinmeier said there was no need to gloss over anything in this neighborhood.
“Of course there are sometimes different interests.
Of course, there are sometimes different points of view. ”But they want to listen to each other in the future as well and try to help one another.
"Listening to why the other person might disagree or prefer other ways, that is the decisive factor in order to always find solutions to the open questions (...)." The Federal President emphasized: "We take criticism seriously."
Polish government not an easy partner
The Federal President invoked the joint responsibility of both countries for a Europe that is growing together. “I cannot imagine a strong Europe without this cooperation.” These words are also of particular significance in view of the fact that the EU Commission has been in dispute with the national-conservative PiS government in Warsaw for years over the restructuring of the Polish judiciary. Among other things, the Brussels authority has doubts about the independence of the Polish constitutional court.
Both sides have now agreed to advance support for the respective minorities. For example, Polish lessons in Germany are to be promoted with a special fund of five million euros annually. In addition, the refurbishment of the “Polish House” in Bochum is guaranteed by the additional funding promised by the federal government, said Steinmeier.
The neighborhood agreement was signed on June 17, 1991 after the end of the Cold War.
The document stipulated, among other things, the inviolability of the borders.
Germany and Poland promised to resolve conflicts exclusively by peaceful means.
The agreement also regulates the rights of the German minority in Poland and of Germans of Polish origin.
It also assured Poland of German support in moving closer to the EU, which the country then joined in 2004.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210617-99-26615 / 9
Destatis on the number of foreign citizens in Germany
German-Polish neighborhood agreement 1991
Foreign Office on the German minority in Poland
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Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Andrzej Duda meet with their delegations for a discussion in the official residence of the Polish President.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka
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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (l) and Polish President Andrzej Duda speak at a press conference after their conversation in the official residence of the Polish President.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka
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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrives at Frederic Chopin Airport with an Airbus of the Bundeswehr ready to fly.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka
