Former German President Joachim Gauck has been awarded the International Bridge Prize of the European City of Görlitz/Zgorzelec. The citation stated that Gauck had rendered outstanding services to democracy, freedom and international understanding in Europe. The award was presented on Wednesday evening at the Görlitz Synagogue Cultural Forum.
Gauck was recognized for his many years of commitment to human rights and dialogue between peoples, religions and cultures. As a Protestant pastor in the GDR, later as head of the Stasi Records Office and as Federal President, he had consistently campaigned for an open society. Even after leaving office, he remained a formative voice for freedom, responsibility and a united Europe, it was said.
Since 1993, the International Bridge Prize has been awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to democratic development and understanding in Europe. It is endowed with 2,500 euros. Previous winners include the writer Herta Müller and her colleague Günter Grass, the architect Daniel Libeskind and the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
