23 Jan 2022

An ubiquitous mutualistic relationship between France and Germany remains key to tackling global concerns, France ambassador, Ms Laurence BEAU said last Friday. She was speaking at the commemoration reception of Franco-German Day she co-hosted with her German counterpart Ms Margrit Hellwig-Bötte at Alliance Française Friday.

The reception, which the two ambassadors used to reflect on the shared history of France and Germany, was a reiteration of the importance of Franco-German cooperation and their joint actions globally, in Europe and Botswana.

Giving an overview of the Franco-German Day Ms Beau said it could be traced to the Elysée Treaty, which French president Charles de Gaulle and German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer signed on January 22, 1963.

The treaty was that of friendship between the two countries, and allowed them to establish new foundation for relations, following a history with centuries of rivalry and wars. Ms BEAU said the treat marked the beginning of a long friendship between the two countries. Not only was the treaty a commitment to peace by Germany and France.

It was also a symbol of peace in Europe. It created and promoted various important exchanges, especially around culture and youth, and has grown in strength over the years, she said.

“Forty years after the signing of this treaty, French President Jacques Chirac and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder declared January 22 as the official Franco-German day with an objective of arousing young people’s enthusiasm for each other’s language and culture,” she said. Ms Beau said this year’s Franco-German Day was also a commemoration of the third anniversary of the Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation and Integration, signed by leaders of the two countries on January 22, 2019 in Aachen, 56 years after the Elysée Treaty.

German Ambassador, Ms Hellwig-Bötte said her personal history as a ‘Child of the Elysée’ was strongly linked to the Elysée Treaty, which came into effect when she was five years old.

“Many opportunities for us as students arose as a result of the Treaty’s ratification, such as school exchange programmes between France and Germany, which I participated in for a period of four years,” she said.

The opportunity, according to Ms Hellwig-Bötte, helped her fall in love with French culture and she ended up studying French Language and literature.

She said she also worked for the Franco-German Youth office, which was established by the Elysée Treaty, further fueling her enthusiasm for French culture and ideas.  

Ms Hellwig-Bötte stated that her initial ambition was to become a French teacher, but she ended up becoming a diplomat instead.  However, she said, her passion for the French culture never faded.

As a tribute to the Franco-German Day, the German Ambassador donated her collection of historic French literature to the Alliance Française de Gaborone. ENDS