POTSDAM, Germany – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II opened a conference on climate change during a state visit Wednesday and praised the progress made by Germany’s formerly communist east.
The queen, whose trip to Germany has highlighted the countries’ post-World War II reconciliation, had lunch at the Cecilienhof manor in Potsdam, just outside Berlin, where American, Russian and British leaders met for two weeks in 1945 to discuss the shape of postwar Europe.
She spoke of the transformation of Germany’s eastern states after the country reunified 14 years ago.
“I would like to pay tribute to all you have achieved,” she said. “Multiparty democracy and the rule of law are firmly established again, and so, too, is the free market economy.”
The queen and Prince Philip planned to visit a nearby stately home, Krongut Bornstedt – where the queen’s great-great-aunt and her husband cultivated a vast English garden – to meet employees of Rolls-Royce Aeroengines. The company produces airplane engines in the state of Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin.
“I am pleased that Britain continues to play an active role in promoting Brandenburg’s prosperity,” the queen said.
She showed her interest in climate change by opening the one-day British-German conference at the British Embassy, titled “Climate Change: Meeting the Challenge Together,” which was to work on recommendations to Prime Minister Tony Blair for next year’s British presidency of the Group of Eight industrial nations.
“I’m hugely happy that the queen herself is identifying herself with this issue,” U.N. Environment Program chief Klaus Toepfer, who chaired the meeting, told ARD television.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
