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How Poland and Germany put aside historical differences holds lessons for others

​It could hardly have been a better coincidence. Just a day before the 25th anniversary of the signing of the German-Polish Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, Germany played Poland in Euro 2016.The soccer game even ended in a diplomatically appropriate draw. On June 17 1991, the then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and his Polish counterpart Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, along with foreign ministers of the two countries, had signed the German-Polish Treaty.

It could hardly have been a better coincidence. Just a day before the 25th anniversary of the signing of the German-Polish Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, Germany played Poland in Euro 2016.The soccer game even ended in a diplomatically appropriate draw. On June 17 1991, the then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and his Polish counterpart Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, along with foreign ministers of the two countries, had signed the German-Polish Treaty.

For both sides, the treaty was a turning point, laying the foundations for comprehensive neighbourly cooperation. Poland and Germany had a long and painful history of conflicts and hostility. During the German occupation of Poland during the Second World War, some of the most hideous crimes were committed. An example was the brutal crushing of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Nazi armed forces.

The rapprochement between Germany and Poland had begun in 1965 when Polish bishops of the Roman Catholic Church sent a letter of reconciliation to their German counterparts, in which they declared “We forgive and ask for forgiveness” (for the crimes of World War II).

Five years later, in 1970, German chancellor Willy Brandt spontaneously fell on his knees in front of a monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, silently asking for forgiveness.

German-Polish reconciliation was a first step towards mutual forgiveness which paved the way towards honest German-Polish friendship.

The communist times in Poland, as well as the existence of a divided Germany, did not help in building a genuine rapprochement and understanding between Poles and Germans.

It all changed in the 1980s. The establishment of the “Solidarity” movement followed by the first democratic elections also contributed to the building of bridges of solidarity between the two nations.

The real breakthrough came in1989-1990. In November 1989, a meeting in Krzyżowa between the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the Polish Premier Tadeusz Mazowiecki and the passing of a sign of peace during a mass, symbolised true reconciliation. The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the events that followed became a starting point for the unification of the two German states and opened a way towards the Good Neighbourliness Treaty which marked the new beginning of relations between the unified Germany and the free and democratic Poland and even closer European integration.

The treaty laid the foundations for comprehensive neighbourly cooperation not just on the governmental and institutional level, but also between the peoples of Poland and Germany. New institutions were established to promote broad and close cooperation. Among them was the German-Polish Youth Office which helps young people in both countries to know each other better and has proven an invaluable tool in deepening friendly relations.

There are about 2 million people in Poland who are learning German as a foreign language, making it by far the second most popular foreign language in Poland, after English. Germany is also very popular among Polish university students. More than 9,000 Polish students are registered at German universities. Children can enjoy bilingual education at the German-Polish Willy Brandt School in Warsaw and the Robert-Jungk-Oberschule in Berlin.

Additionally, there are now more than 600 town twinning and some 1,200 university twinning arrangements between the two countries. The Polish-German Intergovernmental Commission on Regional and Cross-border Cooperation is held regularly since the signing the agreement.

Foreign trade between the two countries has grown since 1991 at average annual rates of between 8 and 12 per cent. Germany is Poland’s most important trading partner, and Poland is becoming more important for Germany every year.

German direct investment in Poland since 1989/1990 has amounted to over 30 billion euros (S$45.7 b). And Polish businesses provide additional economic impetus, not least in the border area between both countries.

The German-Polish Treaty on Good-Neighbourliness is a good example of how two countries with initially troubled ties can reconcile and move forward towards a better future.

Today, both countries are equal members of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization and enjoy the closest possible ties, socially, politically and culturally.

While every context is different, the Polish-German experience can also be of relevance for Asia. Our friendship proves that it is in the best interest of neighbouring countries to find ways to lay aside historical animosities and work together for a common future.

The Asia-Pacific region has already made significant steps towards deepening neighbourly relations through organisations such as the 10-member Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean). Still, many challenges lie ahead and overcoming historical disputes between former enemies remains an essential part to broaden the cooperation in the region. Treaties fostering good neighbourly relations among Asean members cannot provide a panacea, but they can certainly help to solve multiple issues, leading to an even a closer integration of a South East Asia.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz is Polish Ambassador to Singapore and Michael Witter is GermanAmbassador to Singapore. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Singapore are jointly organising a jazz concert by the Polish-German band The Crazy Vibes at 6.30 pm on Sunday at the Shaw Symphony Stage in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Admission is free.

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