Markus Meckel, German politician and member of ENRS Advisory Board, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. He received the Order awarded by President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski for his merits for mutual understanding and reconciliation between Poles and Germans.
Markus Meckel is theologian and politician. He was involved in the opposition in the German Democratic Republic and co-founded the Social Democratic Party in the GDR 1989. In 1990, after the free elections, he served as foreign minister of the GDR in the government of Lothar de Maizière. As the foreign minister, he made efforts to recognize the border between Germany and Poland as soon as possible. He was also a supporter of quick accession of Poland to NATO.
He was active in German politics and for many years he was a member of the German Parliament. Currently he is President of the German War Graves Commission. He is also co-president of the council of the Foundation for German-Polish cooperation. More about Markus Meckel.
The Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland is a Polish order awarded to those who have rendered great service to the Polish nation. It is granted to foreigners or Poles resident abroad and as such is a traditional 'diplomatic order'.