Book on German, French history presented at YSU

The Yerevan State University (YSU) hosted Monday the presentation of a book devoted to the history of Germany and France.

The event was held as part of the project, Building Common History: The French German Textbook example.

The two countries’ ambassadors to Armenia, Henry Reno and Rainer Morel, held a news conference later to introduce the initiative.

The project is aimed at presenting a manual telling about the Franco-German history and the Élysée Treaty.

The French ambassador said that the book first introduces each country’s history separately before addressing their common path.

“Both nations’ young scholars stand at the roots of the manual,” he said. “But there’s something simpler in this life; it is easier to open borders rather than one’s scope of mind.”

Asked whether they seek to educate students in that way, the diplomat said the book is aimed at setting a good example rather than teaching people things.

“We just show what happened or what the Franco-German history is.

“The two countries waged bloody wars for 75 years, so that had to find a solution. Any gap can be filled, and any wound can be healed– that’s the manual’s message. This is not the history’s fatalism as it is possible to turn over a new leaf,” he said, adding that mutual understanding can always replace hostility and hatred.

Continuing the topic, Germany’s ambassador said they just present the two countries’ reconciliation efforts, without trying to give the reader guidelines. “Two countries have tried to come over a complicated situation and reach conciliation, laying the foundations of the European Union. This is the history we are trying to tell. It’s up to you how to use it,” he added.

Ambassador Reno noted at the end that Armenia is in want of a peace and reconciliation.

“I think it is the present generation that has to find a constructive way leading to peace and ensuring cooperation with neighbors,” he said.