|
Schroeder says Czechs,Germans must put past behind
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Friday an age old dispute with the neighbouring Czech Republic, which is to join the European Union next May, should be laid to rest. Tensions have simmered for nearly 60 years since Pragueâs expulsion of millions of ethnic Germans after World War II. Uh oh, here we go again. ââThe Czech Republic and Germany have every reason to look forward and what sometimes led to misunderstandings or differences of opinions should be relegated to the past,ââ Schroeder told journalists during a one-day visit to Prague. Misunderstandings? After World War II, three million Sudeten Germans were stripped of property and citizenship because most had supported Nazi Germany when Berlin annexed the borderlands in 1938 and the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939. Gee, and they were suprised the Czechâs held that against them? The row was left to fester during four decades of Communism. Growing nationalism in European politics last year resurrected the battle over the so-called Benes decrees which authorised the expulsion. The EU has ruled the decrees are not a barrier to the Czech Republic joining the bloc. What a suprise, guess the rest of europe hasnât "gotten over it" either. Posted by: Steve 2003-09-05 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=18370 |