Potsdamer Gesellschaft für transatlantischen Dialog





			April 24, 2009 Founding of Potsdamer Gesellschaft für transatlantischen Dialog – Gateway Brandenburg – Washington Schönbohm and Hughes: Association intends to establish and deepen mutual understanding No. 072/2009 Press release of the Ministry of the Interior of the State of Brandenburg A new association, founded in Potsdam on Friday, aims to promote transatlantic dialogue and youth exchange. "With the deepening of mutual knowledge about the USA and Brandenburg we wish to make a contribution to improving relations and understanding on both sides,” emphasized the chairman of the association, Minister of the Interior Jörg Schönbohm, and his deputy and representative of the association in Washington, Peter Hughes, at the inaugural meeting of the Potsdamer Gesellschaft für transatlantischen Dialog – Gateway Brandenburg – Washington. "By facilitating personal encounters, we want to give young people and multipliers the opportunity to get to know their peers across the Atlantic. This personal contact will create a better and deeper mutual understanding of the history, daily reality and attitudes on both sides. This also strengthens the partnership between our two countries, which for decades have stood side by side in defense of freedom,” added Schönbohm and Hughes. In addition to providing a youth exchange program, the association will also hold events centering on academic research, general knowledge and mutual understanding and will also undertake research projects. Among other things, international symposia on critical current issues and research contracts in contemporary history for scholars at German and American colleges and universities are being planned. Furthermore, the association plans to help publish various academic publications and other relevant information. In addition to its headquarters in Potsdam, the association will be represented with branch offices in Cambridge, UK and in Washington, DC.