The reconciliation of Russia and Germany can be described as a model for reconciliation of all kinds, Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and EU Council President, said at the Russia-EU summit, underway in Moscow.
Juncker praised the speech Russian President Vladimir Putin pronounced at the VE-Day parade on Red Square yesterday, the event that was attended by the leaders of most European countries as well as other states.
"We are basing our policies on the principles of freedom and democracy, on every state's right to choose its own development course. We are basing our policy on trust and search for civilized prospects for all nations, including those with previous experience of confrontation who managed to find a new road to international dialogue and cooperation.
"The historic reconciliation of Russia and Germany is a dramatic example of that policy. My strong belief is it is one of the most precious achievements of post-war Europe, an example that is worth following in modern global politics," the president said.
The EU Council president said the European Union had done the utmost to get the nations reconciled.
Juncker said they were living in a completely different atmosphere now, that of absolute trust between Russia and the EU.
History had to begin a new phase, Juncker said. He said we had to be optimistic about the future as we were guided by a common goal, which was to turn the European continent into a continent of peace.
