Opening Speech Matthias Platzeck

Dear Lord Weidenfeld,
Lord Mayor,
dear panel,
ladies and gentlemen,
my dear guests,

Let me welcome you to the Schloss Theatre in Potsdam.  And please allow me to welcome one guest in particular. I am pleased that the former President of the Islamic Republic of Mauretania, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, is among us today. A warm welcome to you.

He has done something that shows true greatness and only a few would do. He voluntarily relinquished power. Under his leadership the governing military council prepared Mauretania’s transition to democracy. For the first time in the history of Mauretania in the spring of this year a changeover of power has taken place through free and democratic elections.

That you, your Excellency, and the military council which has governed  since 2005 have prepared this peaceful and free transition of your country to democracy and accompanied it step by step is truly a great accomplishment. Under your governance Mauretania made enormous progress: human rights are protected, slavery is now outlawed, people who were driven from their homeland are allowed to return. I believe Ely Ould Mohamed Vall deserves our highest respect for this and the young democracy of Mauretania all our support. Welcome to Potsdam.

Ladies and gentlemen, tradition needs care, especially because it is still a young one. Young and traditional – this is exactly what characterises the M100 Colloquium here in Potsdam. Although this annual gathering was only brought into being in 2005 it met with an astounding response. It now offers an important landmark in the media landscape and also gives impetus to dealing with developments in the world which regrettably do not always give us reasons for insouciance. Yet, Sanssouci as a venue for exchange gives new nourishment especially to the belief in the ideals of true and fact oriented journalism. And I do not consider this insignificant at a time where many people find it difficult to find their way in the midst of the ample media offers and to have confidence in it.

It is all the more important how the leading heads of the top media interact with each other, how they communicate. Language and dialogue are after all at the core of journalistic work and always will be and at the same time also the essence of a good cooperation of our societies. And dialogue, practiced that way, conducted that way, overcomes boundaries. Visible boundaries as they once ran through Europe and invisible ones such as for example between Europe and the region of the Maghreb and the Middle East. And this is the reason why I consider Potsdam, a town in the Middle of Europe, to be the right place to bring together journalists from there and here.

I am glad that Potsdam, my home town, stands for a special atmosphere of cooperation, openness and cultured exchanges rich in content but also for the cut and thrust of the arguments during the M100 Colloquium. This international gathering of top journalists and decision-makers of renowned publications is not only about the media. It is above all and again and again about people. Also about people who are recognised for their humanitarian commitment, who dedicate themselves to the cultural progress in the world, who leave their footprint on the world in the best sense of the word. That is why I am delighted that today Mr. Geldof has found his way to Potsdam.

Finally, I would like to thank all those people, among them many new Potsdamers, who should also be mentioned here, whose work has led to this city becoming an unparalleled podium for journalistic exchange at the highest level.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to be present at today’s prize-giving ceremony of the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium. The entire government of the Land Brandenburg send their greetings. I wish us a wonderful evening and the whole event good and sustained progress.

Welcome to Sanssouci.

ladies and gentlemen,
my dear guests,

Let me welcome you to the Schloss Theatre in Potsdam.  And please allow me to welcome one guest in particular. I am pleased that the former President of the Islamic Republic of Mauretania, Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, is among us today. A warm welcome to you.

He has done something that shows true greatness and only a few would do. He voluntarily relinquished power. Under his leadership the governing military council prepared Mauretania’s transition to democracy. For the first time in the history of Mauretania in the spring of this year a changeover of power has taken place through free and democratic elections.

That you, your Excellency, and the military council which has governed  since 2005 have prepared this peaceful and free transition of your country to democracy and accompanied it step by step is truly a great accomplishment. Under your governance Mauretania made enormous progress: human rights are protected, slavery is now outlawed, people who were driven from their homeland are allowed to return. I believe Ely Ould Mohamed Vall deserves our highest respect for this and the young democracy of Mauretania all our support. Welcome to Potsdam.

Ladies and gentlemen, tradition needs care, especially because it is still a young one. Young and traditional – this is exactly what characterises the M100 Colloquium here in Potsdam. Although this annual gathering was only brought into being in 2005 it met with an astounding response. It now offers an important landmark in the media landscape and also gives impetus to dealing with developments in the world which regrettably do not always give us reasons for insouciance. Yet, Sanssouci as a venue for exchange gives new nourishment especially to the belief in the ideals of true and fact oriented journalism. And I do not consider this insignificant at a time where many people find it difficult to find their way in the midst of the ample media offers and to have confidence in it.

It is all the more important how the leading heads of the top media interact with each other, how they communicate. Language and dialogue are after all at the core of journalistic work and always will be and at the same time also the essence of a good cooperation of our societies. And dialogue, practiced that way, conducted that way, overcomes boundaries. Visible boundaries as they once ran through Europe and invisible ones such as for example between Europe and the region of the Maghreb and the Middle East. And this is the reason why I consider Potsdam, a town in the Middle of Europe, to be the right place to bring together journalists from there and here.

I am glad that Potsdam, my home town, stands for a special atmosphere of cooperation, openness and cultured exchanges rich in content but also for the cut and thrust of the arguments during the M100 Colloquium. This international gathering of top journalists and decision-makers of renowned publications is not only about the media. It is above all and again and again about people. Also about people who are recognised for their humanitarian commitment, who dedicate themselves to the cultural progress in the world, who leave their footprint on the world in the best sense of the word. That is why I am delighted that today Mr. Geldof has found his way to Potsdam.

Finally, I would like to thank all those people, among them many new Potsdamers, who should also be mentioned here, whose work has led to this city becoming an unparalleled podium for journalistic exchange at the highest level.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to be present at today’s prize-giving ceremony of the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium. The entire government of the Land Brandenburg send their greetings. I wish us a wonderful evening and the whole event good and sustained progress.

Welcome to Sanssouci.