Ernst Reuter Initiative
The "Ernst Reuter Initiative" launched by Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül is intended to promote intercultural dialogue between Turkey and Germany. Ariana Mirza reports on the motives and objectives of the initiative
The Ernst Reuter Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding In February of this year, Abdullah Gül and Frank-Walter Steinmeier personally demonstrated what German-Turkish cooperation at the media and political level can look like.
In response to the cartoon controversy, the two foreign ministers co-authored an article which was published concurrently in the highest-circulation newspapers in their respective countries – "Bild" in Germany and "Hürriyet" in Turkey.
In the article, among other things, the ministers deplored the lack of mutual respect, sensitivity, and awareness in the two countries.
In September 2006, Gül and Steinmeier together launched an initiative that is designed to strongly promote intercultural understanding.
During the period leading up to Turkey's EU accession, Turkey and Germany should not only become closer on the official, political level, but also through civil society exchange. "This initiative is not a government matter; the people will take the real steps," said Abdullah Gül at the opening ceremony in Istanbul.
Refuge from the Nazis in Turkey
The initiative on German-Turkish understanding is named after the politician Ernst Reuter, who spent more than 13 years in Turkish exile. Like numerous other victims of Nazi persecution – among them many scholars and artists – Reuter, who later became mayor of Berlin, found a safe haven in Turkey during the Nazi regime.
During his exile in Turkey (1935-1946), Ernst Reuter introduced city planning as a university discipline and served as consultant to the Government
Reuter, who during his exile was an advisor to the Turkish government, became one of the leading figures in the young Federal Republic of Germany after the war ended.
The activities of the Ernst Reuter Initiative will focus on the sectors of business, media, education, sports, science, and theology. There appears to be no lack of interested partners. "German companies such as Bosch, Siemens, and Öger have responded to the appeal and have already pledged support for concrete projects," explained Minister Steinmeier.
Joint publications planned
Prominent media representatives from both countries have also joined the initiative. Deutsche Welle and the newspapers Bild, Hürriyet, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, in particular, have committed themselves. Journalist training and exchange programs and joint publications are planned. In addition, Deutsche Welle will expand its media presence in Turkey.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Abdullah Gül launched the "Ernst Reuter Initiative" as a countermeasure to the cartoon controversy
The initiators emphasized the central role of the media in the process of understanding targeted by the initiative. The cartoon controversy illustrated the importance of media coverage in the creation and reinforcing of enemy stereotypes.
Bilateral cooperation between media representatives can make a valuable contribution towards objectivity in intercultural debates. It is essential to counteract increasing cultural and religious polarization, said Steinmeier.
Integration in Germany and Turkey
Youth and teacher exchanges as well as academic and scientific cooperation are further priorities. The Ernst Reuter Initiative thus supports the foundation of a German-Turkish university in Turkey.
The existing cooperation between Humboldt University in Berlin and the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara is to be expanded.
The bilateral efforts also include the subject of integration. In Germany, both people of Turkish origin and the German population are urged to overcome feelings of resentment and indifference, agreed the ministers.
In this connection, the Ernst Reuter Initiative wants to provide assistance for training and educational work.
Broadly-based social exchange
The initiative is particularly committed to the issue of religion. Plans include the establishment of training courses for Islamic theologians in Germany.
In addition, the work of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DİTİB) is to be supported. Preparations are also under way for a visiting professorship for German lecturers at the theological faculty of Ankara University.
Through broadly-based social exchange, the Ernst Reuter Initiative can successfully contribute to overcoming divisions, according to official sources in Ankara and Berlin.
The Turkish-born actress Renan Demirkan, who lives in Germany, accompanied Foreign Minister Steinmeier to the official launching ceremony in Istanbul. She expressed the challenge in her own words: "My wish is that Germans and Turks see the world a bit more through each other's eyes."
Ariana Mirza
© Qantara.de 2007
Translated from the German by Phyllis Anderson
Printversion
Overcoming Divisions
The "Ernst Reuter Initiative" launched by Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül is intended to promote intercultural dialogue between Turkey and Germany. Ariana Mirza reports on the motives and objectives of the initiative
The Ernst Reuter Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding In February of this year, Abdullah Gül and Frank-Walter Steinmeier personally demonstrated what German-Turkish cooperation at the media and political level can look like.
In response to the cartoon controversy, the two foreign ministers co-authored an article which was published concurrently in the highest-circulation newspapers in their respective countries – "Bild" in Germany and "Hürriyet" in Turkey.
In the article, among other things, the ministers deplored the lack of mutual respect, sensitivity, and awareness in the two countries.
In September 2006, Gül and Steinmeier together launched an initiative that is designed to strongly promote intercultural understanding.
During the period leading up to Turkey's EU accession, Turkey and Germany should not only become closer on the official, political level, but also through civil society exchange. "This initiative is not a government matter; the people will take the real steps," said Abdullah Gül at the opening ceremony in Istanbul.
Refuge from the Nazis in Turkey
The initiative on German-Turkish understanding is named after the politician Ernst Reuter, who spent more than 13 years in Turkish exile. Like numerous other victims of Nazi persecution – among them many scholars and artists – Reuter, who later became mayor of Berlin, found a safe haven in Turkey during the Nazi regime.
; "Ernst Reuter (photo: dpa)")
During his exile in Turkey (1935-1946), Ernst Reuter introduced city planning as a university discipline and served as consultant to the Government
Reuter, who during his exile was an advisor to the Turkish government, became one of the leading figures in the young Federal Republic of Germany after the war ended.The activities of the Ernst Reuter Initiative will focus on the sectors of business, media, education, sports, science, and theology. There appears to be no lack of interested partners. "German companies such as Bosch, Siemens, and Öger have responded to the appeal and have already pledged support for concrete projects," explained Minister Steinmeier.
Joint publications planned
Prominent media representatives from both countries have also joined the initiative. Deutsche Welle and the newspapers Bild, Hürriyet, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, in particular, have committed themselves. Journalist training and exchange programs and joint publications are planned. In addition, Deutsche Welle will expand its media presence in Turkey.
; "Germany's Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier, left, and his Turkish counterpart Gül (photo: AP)")
Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Abdullah Gül launched the "Ernst Reuter Initiative" as a countermeasure to the cartoon controversy
The initiators emphasized the central role of the media in the process of understanding targeted by the initiative. The cartoon controversy illustrated the importance of media coverage in the creation and reinforcing of enemy stereotypes.Bilateral cooperation between media representatives can make a valuable contribution towards objectivity in intercultural debates. It is essential to counteract increasing cultural and religious polarization, said Steinmeier.
Integration in Germany and Turkey
Youth and teacher exchanges as well as academic and scientific cooperation are further priorities. The Ernst Reuter Initiative thus supports the foundation of a German-Turkish university in Turkey.
The existing cooperation between Humboldt University in Berlin and the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara is to be expanded.
The bilateral efforts also include the subject of integration. In Germany, both people of Turkish origin and the German population are urged to overcome feelings of resentment and indifference, agreed the ministers.
In this connection, the Ernst Reuter Initiative wants to provide assistance for training and educational work.
Broadly-based social exchange
The initiative is particularly committed to the issue of religion. Plans include the establishment of training courses for Islamic theologians in Germany.
In addition, the work of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DİTİB) is to be supported. Preparations are also under way for a visiting professorship for German lecturers at the theological faculty of Ankara University.
Through broadly-based social exchange, the Ernst Reuter Initiative can successfully contribute to overcoming divisions, according to official sources in Ankara and Berlin.
The Turkish-born actress Renan Demirkan, who lives in Germany, accompanied Foreign Minister Steinmeier to the official launching ceremony in Istanbul. She expressed the challenge in her own words: "My wish is that Germans and Turks see the world a bit more through each other's eyes."
Ariana Mirza
© Qantara.de 2007
Translated from the German by Phyllis Anderson
Qantara.de
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German Jews in Exile in Turkey
"Haymatloz" in Istanbul and Ankara
When the Nazis took power in 1933, hundreds of thousands of German Jews fled the country. Some of them ended up in Turkey, which was a neutral state and safe haven up until the end of World War II. Ursula Trüper recounts their story and that of the Ruben family
Essay Naika Foroutan
A Dialogue of the Cultures Instead of the Clash of Civilisations
The issue of cultural dialogue always crops up when things have already started to go wrong. But that dialogue is not some short-term emergency measure, writes Naika Foroutan. In her essay, she discusses the basic principles of dialogue
Dossier
Turkey and Europe
Are questions of cultural identity more important than political and economic criteria? And what role does Islam play concerning Turkey's integration into Europe? Read about these issues and more in our dossier
www
More background information on the Ernst Reuter Initiative on the website of Germany's Federal Foreign Office
Printversion
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