On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the French-German Friendship Treaty on Thursday, the
German Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Cyrill Nunn and his French counterpart Ambassador Philippe
Thiébaud shared their thoughts on the reconciliation process of the two European nations.
Speaking at the occasion, Quaid-e-Azam University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Masoom Yasinzai said that that the Elysee treaty, signed in 1963, remained the cornerstone of French-German cooperation, which was the main engine of the European Union (EU). The two countries represent 33 percent of the EU population, 36 percent of the European budget, 37 percent of the EU GDP, 31 percent of voting rights, he said.
Furthermore, Ambassador Cyrill Nunn highlighted the importance of leadership and said that General de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer had a clear vision for a united Europe and were able to convince the general public of the benefits close relations between France and Germany. Since then, the two countries had learned to compromise in order to achieve progress, he said.
Moreover, French Ambassador to Pakistan Philippe Thiebaud focused on the historical context and significance of this treaty which was signed in the wake of the Cold War tensions. In his view, the treaty, which defined the organising principles of the relationship between former archrivals, was the result of political will and courage on both sides. The treaty, he said, was revolutionary not only because it institutionalised regular meetings between state representatives but also because it recognised the importance of youth and civil society in building sustainable bridges between two populations.
