Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today (20 July) sent the Czech writer Pavel Kohout the following letter congratulating him on his birthday:

"Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 80th birthday. For the year ahead I wish you health, happiness and personal fulfilment.

Your outstanding contributions to European drama and fiction have earned you an impressive reputation and a host of awards. The close look you take at German-Czech history in many of your novels and other writings has done much to foster greater understanding between Germans and Czechs. I would particularly like to thank you for the untiring support you have given to Prague's German-Language Drama Festival, which you founded in 1996 and which is now a firm fixture of the city's theatre life.

For the future I wish you continuing drive, inspiration and energy and hope you have a wonderful day celebrating this special birthday with your family and friends."