“You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time”, former United States Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder famously said. Anyone who has spoken with Representative Schroeder knows that the statement captures its speaker: witty, unabashed and brazen.…

Professor Gert Weisskirchen’s voice reverberates as he hammers his fist on his armchair, while the metal clang of his ring seems to keep cadence with the rhythm of his voice and thoughts as it strikes the armchair. He is the…

The Asian Hot Shots Film Festival was started in 2007 and takes place every year in Berlin in January. This year the festival included altogether around 90 films of all descriptions from 15 countries. The aim is to bring fresh…

CD News had the privilege and pleasure to visit the office of Dr Nicholas O'Brien, Deputy Head of Mission, Irish Embassy, Berlin.

Dr Nicholas O'Brien has…

When we visited the Korean cultural center, on the second floor of a building on Lützowufer, in central Berlin, we had no idea that we were officially stepping onto South Korean soil. We were welcomed…

Slovakia is a relatively new member of the European Union, can you talk us through the process that led you to the position you are in now? How were the Slovak representatives selected?…

Mr. Busek, you are in Berlin for the “Soul for Europe” conference, the aim of which is to bring together politicians and cultural practitioners from across the Europe to highlight the need to create a European identity and enhance cultural aspects in European politics. What is the role of cultural exchange and its relevance for today’s Europe?

I…

Professor Mahbubani, your family moved to Singapore from Pakistan and you grew up in a multi-cultural society. Can you tell me more about your experience growing up in this environment?

British Embassy

Mr. Mortimer, what does the future hold for the European Union? Will we see an increasingly unitary body with regards to foreign and economic policy, or will…

In a quiet street in the heart of Niederschoenhausen, lies the elegant, white premises that houses the Mongolian embassy. Greeted by the warm staff, I was guided through the corridors into the interview room.…

Deutsche Welle

by Johnny Elliot  - 11 July 2008
Christoph Lanz has been managing director of Deutsche Welle television since 2002. As head of the German national external broadcaster he occupies a special role in German public diplomacy and the presentation of Germany to the world. Funded by the government, yet editorally independent, he describes his mission as ‘to show Germany to the rest of the…

Can you give me a brief overview of the structure of the Asia-Europe Foundation and its activities?

The Asia-Europe Foundation is an international organisation established in 1997 under the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process. ASEF advances mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Foundation aims to establish permanent bi-regional networks focused…

Michael Zenner

On its website, the Directorate-General for Culture and Communication in the German Foreign Office outlines that its goals are to “inspire an interest in dialogue and exchange” between Germany and the rest of the world, explain German foreign policy “coherently and convincingly,” and to “canvass support for German positions.”  By disseminating “stimulating, credible information and dialogues on culture and education,” the organization seeks to make…

The worldwide network of "Czech Centres“ act as cultural ambassadors of the Czech Republic, presenting Czech culture to the world as well as encourgaing tourism and trade between their host nation and the home land.

The first Czech Centre in Germany was established in East Berlin in 1955, and was part of a series of Czechoslovak socialist cultural institutions throughout the Soviet bloc.  After a…

In recent years the governments of many nations have begun to take a more active interest in the ways in which they are perceived overseas, and have realised the importance of positive overseas perceptions for building and maintaining good international relations. One means of improving a nation’s overseas reputation, which is becoming increasingly utilised and attracting increasing attention from politicians, diplomats and academics, is cultural…

The Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures) has become a modern landmark of Berlin. With its magnificent and distinctive sloping roof, the building has earned the nickname among Berliners of the ‘pregnant oyster’ and is situated prominently next to the Reichstag and Kanzleramt in the heart of Germany’s new governmental district. As the name suggests, the building is a place for cultures…

Could you give us examples and situations from your experience, where people or countries were successful in improving intercultural understanding, encouraging intercultural sensibility and enabling intercultural experiences?
During my time as Polish ambassador to Sweden between 2000 and 2005, we wrote to the 16 Polish regions and invited them to travel to Sweden with a delegation, in order to acquaint themselves with it and…