The France-Germany example France and Germany provide an excellent example of how people-to-people contact and the media can play a positive and constructive role, and also bring the people of two former enemy countries closer together.

Other factors important factors in overcoming centuries of hostilities in this case, including suspicions among various sections of the population, have been the political leadership and the governments' efforts to encourage people-to-people contacts through several systematic initiatives. These are:

n Systematic policy of twinning: This is more than just official banquets and platitude. It involves signboards with the other country's language and flag in the twin city, linkages between the Chambers of Commerce, colleges, schools, hospitals and even families.

"I was 14 when I went to stay with a German family for a month to learn German. My German friend came to my home the following year and learnt French," says a French diplomat. "The idea requires a low budget and results in life-long friendships."

n Public money spent on institutional youth exchanges: Each government puts in 50 % of the cost required to place youth (young professionals, say under 35 years of age) in various sectors in each other's country - doctors, lawyers, graduate students. This is, as a diplomat puts it, "a fantastic way to change mindsets and make people more accepting of each other."

n Political sustainability and continuity: These policies don't change when the governments do. The budget for the youth exchange is never questioned or amended. France and Germany even conduct joint cabinet meetings in which the Prime Minister along with three to five ministers each meet to discuss various focused issues twice a year - for example, environment, textbooks, water or other shared resources.

n Joint history textbooks: French and German historians have been working on this project for about two years now. The textbooks will not be compulsory but will serve as a resource and an alternate way of looking at things. Other countries with a history of hostilities, like Japan and Korea, have also shown an interest in this concept.

Pakistan would gain technical

capabilities and skills. India would

gain access to more human resources

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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