Reconciliation - The Road to a common Europe

UPF-Austria: Linz, February 4, 2005

 The speakers of the event were:

  • Mr. Gunther Trübswasser from the Upper Austrian Parliament, party leader of the green party
  • Mr. Mag. Ondřej Liška – scientist, advisor for regional development in Brussels, municipal councillor of Brno
  • University Professor Dr. Josef  Wolf from the Charles University of Prag
  • Mr. Peter Zöhrer, IIFWP – representative of IIFWP Middle-Europe

 

 

The evening was opened by the Spielberg String Quartet, consisting of Members of the South Bohemian Philharmonic Brno. With Mozart’s music they created a wonderful harmonious atmosphere.

 

The MC Kurt Sattlberger introduced Prof. Albert Heitzinger, representative of the Upper Austrian chapter of IIFWP, who greeted the guests from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. There were some high-ranking guests present, i.e.

  • Mag. Otto Gumpinger from the Upper Austrian Parliament as representative of the state governor. In a short remark greeted especially the guests from abroad und expressed his appreciation of the IIFWP’s efforts to build bridges to overcome differences between religions.
  • Municipal council Dr. Franz Leidenmühler as representative of the mayor of the city Linz conveyed warm greetings from the mayor and emphasized the fact, that Linz already 1986 became “city of peace”.

 

After briefly introducing the IIFWP by the MC, Mr. Kurt Sattlberger, the first and main speaker, Mr. Trübswasser explained, that the first stimulation for this event was the report he heard about the IIFWP’s MEPI – activities in Jerusalem. He stressed the fact that it is crucially important to clear the problems with the neighbouring countries. According to his experiences NGO’s can be helpful in preparing the soil for reconciliation, but it is indispensable that politicians on both the regional and national level take concrete measures for reconciliation to succeed. On the other hand it is vitally important that the conflicting parties make efforts to bring about reconciliation.

 

Next Mr. Mag. Liška reported about his experiences in his hometown Brno, when together with other young people he stirred up the community by engaging in activities for cultural and ethnic communication and understanding between people with German, Czech, Austrian, Sinti and Roma – roots. For centuries – until the end of World War II they had lived harmoniously side by side in Brno and other cities. Mr. Liška pointed out, that it is much easier to achieve reconciliation on an individual level rather than on a collective scale.

 

Mr. Peter Zöhrer gave an interesting PowerPoint Presentation about the Principles of Reconciliation and he reported about his experiences with the MEPI-activities in Jerusalem. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolf expressed, that he did not feel as a guest or foreigner but rather felt at home with this audience.

 

Then the MC invited the audience to ask questions to the speakers or make short statements. Now an intensive exchange of thoughts took place. The emotional climax of the evening was, when Mrs. Christa Scharf, a Sudeten German herself, gave her testimony. As a sixteen years old girl together with her family she was driven out of her hometown and had to flee abroad. For many years she struggled with her resentment over the loss of her homeland. Now finally she could overcome her internal resentments and bears no more grudges towards the Czech people. As an expression of her warm heart she handed out self-baked cookies.

 

The evening was closed by a wonderful performance of a String Quartet by the bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak.

 

In this way, through this conference the official representatives of the regional politics could be informed of the initiatives of our beloved True Parents and a process of reconciliation could be initiated between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, which will be continued on both sides. All participants were deeply moved and yearn to participate in this healing process.

Report compiled by Maria Pammer