“Wonderful together” – the year of Germany starts in the United States

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The relationship between Germany and the USA was much better than it is now. Now the Germany to bring the year in the United States, the people of both countries closer together again.

The current tensions in the transatlantic relationship since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump are not to be overlooked. As has long been carefully planned German charm Offensive comes to a Boost of the German-American Dialogue. Under the Motto”Wonderful together” are from this year’s “day of German unity”, i.e. the 3. October 2018 until the end of 2019, more than 1000 events and 300 projects are planned across the United States: Among other things, the “Hiking bus will visit” schools, and also mobile beer to celebrate gardens in the hospitality and Bavarian beer, and Podcasts to draw a vivid portrait of life in Germany and in the United States. It says So on the Website of the Goethe-Institut, which implements these projects.

The year of Germany is funded by the Federal foreign office and the Federation of German industry supported. The variety of cultural events should not only be on a few large cities, but also in the surface and the interior of the country. A culture is sent to a tent on tour to be used by different partners for panel discussions, author readings, and both Nations unifying themes from history and the present. More than 200 partners are involved.

Maas: friendship is “non-negotiable”

Before the Federal flew foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) on Tuesday for the solemn opening of the year of Germany to Washington, he warned once more before a permanent deterioration of German-American relations. Although Berlin and Washington “are not currently politically on all issues of opinion”, was the German-American friendship “not negotiable,” said Maas.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas

In the Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Federal foreign Minister, said that it had to be “at least the appearance” that the relations between Berlin and Washington are “charged”. “Things have been earlier than, of course, perceived that there are no more. You must strive,” said Maas. Even under Ex-President Barack Obama, there have been differences of opinion, but also an intensive dialogue. “Not anymore.”

Since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2017, have deteriorated relations with the United States. The Federal government rejects the protectionist economic policy of the U.S. President and criticized the withdrawal of the USA from international agreements, such as climate protection or to the Iranian nuclear program. Trump expressed, in turn, often sharp criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).

kk/ka (AFP, dpa, Bayerischer Rundfunk)