- Title: German President Joachim Gauck begins official visit to Chile
- Date: 12th July 2016
- Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GAUCK NEXT TO BACHELET GREETING MEDIA VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILE'S PRESIDENT, MICHELLE BACHELET, SAYING: "As you probably know, President Gauck has a strong commitment to historical memory and human rights. And we talked about the cooperation between our countries to achieve truth and justice in cases of
- Embargoed: 27th July 2016 21:14
- Keywords: Chile Germany state visit German President Joachim Gauck Chile Michelle Bachelet
- Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- City: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0024QDTLR7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:German President Joachim Gauck met with his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet during a visit to Santiago on Tuesday (July 12) with both heads of state addressing the human rights violations which have plagued the histories of both nations.
Gauck was greeted by Bachelet in Santiago's Moneda Palace. The site was also a key monument which marked the 1973 coup d'etat that brought in dictator Augusto Pinochet and the suicide of former leftist President Salvador Allende in its palace walls.
Germany's own dark history with World War I and World War II has also seen the E.U. country reflect on the bitter legacies of its violent chapters. The German school curriculum has been adapted to take on a frank portrayal of the nation's history and the emergence of museums marking the holocaust has seen it garner praise in international circuits.
However, Chile has often struggled to come to terms with its own history. The country's right is accused of being aligned with Pinochet-era allies and activists have accused officials of impeding the search for justice.
One area of contention is the issue of Colonia Dignidad, a colony that was used for detention and torture during Chile's dictatorship. According to some investigators, the site reportedly cooperated with the then German Intelligence Service.
Speaking alongside Gauck, Bachelet told media her country will de-classify documents relating to Colonia Dignidad.
"As you probably know, President Gauck has a strong commitment to historical memory and human rights. And we talked about the cooperation between our countries to achieve truth and justice in cases of serious violations to human rights where these occur. In this context, we have also talked about the statement by the foreign minister, with the possibility of anticipating the declassification of official records on Colonia Dignidad," she announced.
Gauck pledged Germany's support in Chile helping to face its demons from the Pinochet dictatorship more than four decades on.
"We also addressed issues which have to do with the dark chapters of our past. As we all know, Chile was not always a democracy, neither was Germany. Therefore, we make joint efforts for the recovery of memory. Germany had to do it twice, once after the Nazi dictatorship and another after the communist dictatorship. We have a lot of experience, we made many mistakes too. A generation directly after a dictatorship does not want to focus on the issues and wants to look away. Two generations later, we see a larger recovery of historical memory," he said.
According to some investigators, Germany allegedly helped build up bunkers, tunnels and hospitals at Colonia Dignidad, as well as a weapons arsenal. The site has also been under the spotlight recently after it was the subject of a movie starring Emma Watson and German actor Daniel Bruehl.
But despite Germany's reported role at the Pinochet detention site, Gauck ruled out any compensation for victims in Chile.
"I do not want to anticipate the German government, but as for the culture of memory we have created in the country, we are always on the side of those who want a clarification in the interest of the victims. What the German government certainly will not do is accept claims for reparation, because the German government did not build the dictatorship in Chile and participate in it. What we regret is that German diplomats did not take human rights violations seriously at the time of the conflict. This was highlighted by the federal minister of foreign affairs, who developed a strategy to declassify and act transparently. The most crucial will be after the declassification of files in Germany you can get to have the declassification of files in Chile at some institutions," he added.
Gauck's Chile visit comes just after the United Kingdom sent international markets plunging following its Brexit vote.
Chile enjoys a free trade deal with the European Union which has seen bilateral ties blossom. The E.U. is Chile's second trading partner and its biggest source of foreign direct investment.
Given Chile's vested interest in the E.U., Gauck reassured Santiago that Brexit is not the end of the European Union.
"In addition, we make every effort so that relations between Chile and the European Union are improved. President (Bachelet) asked me with great concern what will be of Europe? What will be of Germany after Brexit? What I can say is that the German political sector and the German field deeply regret the decision of the British. We would have liked the British to be part of Europe. Europe needs participation as important a force from the U.K. would've been. But on the other hand, we think that Brexit is not the beginning of the end of the European Union, but the members of the European Union now have to make increased efforts to create a European Union with the support of its citizens and see what the necessary reforms are, which must redefine its objectives," he said.
Gauck will remain in Chile until Thursday (July 14) after which he will travel onto Uruguay. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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