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PEN Centre discusses the Ukraine War at Friedenstein Castle

The PEN Centre Germany and the Gotha Research Library of the University of Erfurt invite you to a special event: As part of the PEN Centre's annual conference in Gotha, a talk will take place at Friedenstein Castle on Saturday, 14 May, at 7 pm.

Friedenstein Castle
Friedenstein Castle

Under the title "Mit aller Kraft. Der Krieg, der Frieden und der PEN" (With all our might. War, Peace, PEN), the Ukrainian writer Marjana Gaponenko, the Austrian writer Eva Menasse, the political scientist, writer and former PEN president Johano Strasser, the journalist and blogger Sascha Lobo, the philosopher Svenja Flaßpöhler and the journalist and current president of the PEN Center Deniz Yücel will discuss. Cornelia Zetzsche will lead the discussion.

In their charter formulated after the First World War, the members of the international writers' association PEN pledged to strive "with all their strength for the ideal of humanity living in peace". What follows from this commitment today, in the face of an intrinsically criminal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, waged with criminal violence against the civilian population? What is the position of German intellectuals on the supply of weapons or the establishment of a no-fly zone to defend and protect the invaded Ukraine? What is allowed to be said publicly in view of the current situation? What should not? What should not be left unsaid? These and other questions are the focus of the conversation, which will be recorded by Deutschlandfunk Kultur and made available as a podcast.

Following the discussion, the "Freundeskreis der Forschungsbibliothek Gotha" (Friends of the Gotha Research Library) invite you to a reception as part of the 375th anniversary of the founding of the Gotha Research Library.

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Due to limited seating capacity, the Gotha Research Library asks for written registration. Seats will be allocated in the order in which registrations are received. Representatives of the press are kindly requested to register as well. The event will take place in the inner courtyard of Friedenstein Castle and in the castle church in case of bad weather.

link to registration

further information / contact:

Sascha Salatowsky
Dr. Sascha Salatowsky
Head of Corporate Communications
(Gotha Research Library)
Gotha Research Library (Gotha, Schlossplatz 1)
Office hours
on appointment
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