Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis received the German Civic Award, conferred by the Bad Harzburg Civic Foundation, and the Franz Werfel Award for Human Rights, conferred by the Center against Expulsions, for his political career.

The German Civic Award was granted to Iohannis during a ceremony that took place on Saturday, June 3, at the Benrath Castle in Düsseldorf, Germany. The next day, the Romanian leader received the Franz Werfel Award for Human Rights at St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt on the Main.

The Bad Harzburg Civic Foundation decided to grant the German Civic Award to president Klaus Iohannis based on the assessment of his entire political career, emphasizing his support for the harmonious coexistence of different ethnicities, commitment to freedom, democracy, and pluralism, the restoration and modernization of his hometown Sibiu, support for the fight against corruption, and attachment to the idea of a united Europe, according to Digi24.

The Bad Harzburg Civic Foundation was established in 1988 as an independent, non-partisan association comprised of personalities committed to preserving and promoting democracy and tolerance in Germany and Europe. The foundation's declared objective is to make democracy tangible, primarily by stimulating dialogue with citizens and their representatives in Germany.

In addition to debates and actions concerning current political and social issues, the association has been awarding the German Civic Award to public figures who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of democracy and the common good since 1995. Among the laureates of the award are the former president of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert, former president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, renowned dissident and former president of the Czech Republic Václav Havel, the first president of the European Commission Jacques Delors, and former federal presidents Richard von Weizsäcker and Roman Herzog.

President Klaus Iohannis stated in his speech at the ceremony where he received the German Civic Award that this distinction "represents, first and foremost, recognition of how democracy and civic engagement are manifested today in Romania." He emphasized, as cited by News.ro, his commitment and the commitment of Romanian citizens to the development of a democratic, united, and solidary Europe.

"A decision in favor of Romania's accession to the Schengen area this year will send a very important signal to our citizens, of belonging and trust in the common European project," Iohannis pointed out.

Meanwhile, the decision to award the Franz Werfel Award to the president of Romania also came in recognition of his activities in promoting human rights and peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups throughout his political career. The laudation was delivered by Jean-Claude Juncker, former president of the European Commission.

The Franz Werfel Award for Human Rights is granted by the Center against Expulsions in Bonn, Germany. The center was founded in 2000 as a project of the Federation of Expellees in Germany, aiming to contribute to the fight against expulsions and genocide as political weapons on a global level and thus contribute to understanding between peoples, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence.

Since 2003, the Center against Expulsions has been awarding the Franz Werfel Award for Human Rights to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to combating human rights violations through genocide, expulsion, or intentional destruction of national, ethnic, racial, or religious groups. Among the laureates of the award are former German president Joachim Gauck, writer Herta Müller, historians Karl Schlögel and Michael Wolffsohn, and director Rick Ostermann.

President Klaus Iohannis also referred, in his speech after receiving the Franz Werfel Award for Human Rights 2023, cited by News.ro, to the good coexistence of national minorities in Romania and to the assistance that Romania provides to Ukraine after the neighboring country was attacked by Russia.

radu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Presidency.ro)