Following the death of the former Polish Foreign Minister Krzysztof Skubiszewski, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle sent a letter of condolence to his Polish opposite number, Radoslaw Sikorski, today (9 February). The letter read as follows:

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Professor Krzysztof Skubiszewski.

As Poland’s Foreign Minister, after the division of Europe had been overcome, Professor Skubiszewski laid the foundations for the excellent relations which tie our two peoples today. Many people in Germany were profoundly impressed by his cosmopolitism and his efforts early on to foster understanding and partnership beyond borders and political systems.

He was also actively involved in the Two Plus Four Negotiations on German unification as Poland’s representative. The 1990 German-Polish Border Treaty and the ground-breaking Treaty on Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation were negotiated under his aegis. Together with Foreign Ministers Genscher and Dumas, he initiated the Weimar Triangle in 1991. The Weimar Triangle has fostered close ties between Germany, France and Poland in a Europe which unites East and West – a Europe we are committed to and inspired by to this very day.

Poland has lost a great statesman, and Germany has lost a friend.

I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to all citizens of your country, who are mourning Krzysztof Skubiszewski.”