Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave an interview to the Polish daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita ahead of today's visit to Berlin by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. The two Foreign Ministers are today attending a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Polish Round-Table Talks, together with historians and some of the key figures of the time. The interview published today (9 February) therefore covers not only current European and international issues, but also and above all German-Polish relations.

Here are just a few extracts from Minister Steinmeier's interview with the Rzeczpospolita:

“Of course, it was ultimately people all over eastern Central Europe who brought down Communism and the Wall. However, it's clear that the resistance in Poland, the Solidarność movement, played a decisive role ...”

”We formulate our policies against the background of our shared history. I myself believe I have an obligation to work towards reconciliation and understanding, preferably through concrete, visible projects (...)“

”Washington is still thinking about the missile defence issue. You know my position: I hope that – in view of the threats we all face – we'll succeed in finding joint solutions.“

“We talk a lot about how necessary it is to diversify Europe's gas supplies – both in terms of supplier countries and transit routes. The Nabucco and Baltic Sea pipelines are both concrete projects with this end in mind. We will desperately need them to meet Europe's growing demand for gas.”

To read the entire interview click here: