I would like to congratulate Olga Tokarczuk and Peter Handke most sincerely on winning Nobel Prizes in Literature. Olga Tokarczuk combines myths with reality in her works and is also an important European voice promoting tolerance and coming to terms with the past. While Peter Handke is not an uncontroversial figure, he is an undisputed master of the German language. The versatile writer known for his strong views is a luminary of the contemporary German-language literary scene.
We are particularly delighted about this today as both Nobel laureates are partners of cultural relations and education policy, be it as guests of the Berlin artists’ programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the branches of the Goethe‑Institut abroad.