GERMANY TO PROPOSE COMMON EU HISTORY BOOK
Selcuk Gultaþlý Brussels

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 26 2007

European Union term president Germany is to propose an EU-wide common
history book that is expected to be a model for history textbooks
for the 27 members of the union.

In the wake of another history-related proposal to punish the deniers
of "genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," Germany is
expected to unveil its proposal at an upcoming informal meeting of
EU education ministers in Heidelberg on March 1-2.

While the common history book initiative has created yet another
controversy like the one on penalizing deniers of genocide, another
debate on history is on the way. Eastern European member countries
want a reference to the dark days of communism in the declaration of
the 50th birthday of the EU that will be held in Berlin on March 25.

While EU education ministers are set this week set to debate the
possibility a common European history book, some member countries have
already taken a position against the initiative. British politicians
say it is an encroachment on the sphere of education that should
be national.

The Armenian lobby has supported the proposal to punish deniers of
genocide hoping the Armenian "genocide" will also be included on the
list. EU members like Britain, Italy and Denmark oppose such measures
on the grounds they damage freedom of expression.

While the German initiative is expected to be announced by the German
education minister Annette Schavan, EU diplomats, speaking to Today’s
Zaman, said it was not yet a proposal. "It is just an idea, nothing
more nothing less. We will see how EU members react. It is going to
be a preliminary debate. If the reaction will be positive, then we
will be able to proceed," said a diplomat.

As reactions have already started to come forward, German government
spokesman Rainer Rudolph said: "It is not the idea at all to rewrite
history. There would be no suggestion of leaving out anything that
might be unpleasant or difficult for the Germans or for anyone else.

That would be ridiculous," according to the British daily The Guardian.

EU diplomats say the idea was inspired by a similar project already
existing between France and Germany involving a book called "Histoire
Geschichte" written by 10 historians, five from each country. Though
the Germans say it is a very successful initiative, experts argue
that already this version — bringing together only two countries —
exposed national differences, with room made for separate paragraphs in
the French and German versions on communism and the US role in Europe.

Meanwhile, European history is also emerging as a potential point of
conflict on the planned declaration to mark the EU’s 50th anniversary,
which will be signed by European leaders in Berlin on March 25.

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