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| Fishermen friends: German anglers call cold war truce | Fishermen friends: German anglers call cold war truce |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| They are known for nothing if not their patience – which may be one explanation as to why it has taken anglers from the former East and West Germany 23 years to call a cold war truce. | They are known for nothing if not their patience – which may be one explanation as to why it has taken anglers from the former East and West Germany 23 years to call a cold war truce. |
| What gymnasts, chess players, swimmers and footballers managed fairly soon after unification in 1990, Germany's anglers have finally achieved, but only after years of bitter recrimination, deep suspicion and copious amounts of cultural prejudice on both sides. | What gymnasts, chess players, swimmers and footballers managed fairly soon after unification in 1990, Germany's anglers have finally achieved, but only after years of bitter recrimination, deep suspicion and copious amounts of cultural prejudice on both sides. |
| From autumn, the West German Association of German Sport Fishers (VDSF) and the East German Anglers' Association (DAV) will come together to form the Deutsche Angelfischerverband (German Anglers' Association) or DAFV. | From autumn, the West German Association of German Sport Fishers (VDSF) and the East German Anglers' Association (DAV) will come together to form the Deutsche Angelfischerverband (German Anglers' Association) or DAFV. |
| "This is a historic moment," said the DAV's president, Günter Markstein, who was ecstatic about the decision, even though it will put him out of his job. "The reunification of German anglers was long overdue." | "This is a historic moment," said the DAV's president, Günter Markstein, who was ecstatic about the decision, even though it will put him out of his job. "The reunification of German anglers was long overdue." |
| His western counterpart, Peter Mohnert, president of the VDSF, said German anglers had finally been forced to face the fact that the two organisations needed each other, "otherwise angling and fishing in Germany is going to sink into insignificance". | His western counterpart, Peter Mohnert, president of the VDSF, said German anglers had finally been forced to face the fact that the two organisations needed each other, "otherwise angling and fishing in Germany is going to sink into insignificance". |
| The east's 170,000 anglers, 650,000 from the west, plus an additional 2 million independent anglers, could have far more of an impact lobbying together on environmental and economic issues than if they remained apart, he added. | The east's 170,000 anglers, 650,000 from the west, plus an additional 2 million independent anglers, could have far more of an impact lobbying together on environmental and economic issues than if they remained apart, he added. |
| Many anglers agree that they might have continued existing separately for years had it not been for the increasing pressures their hobby faced in recent years, most notably from new environmental legislation and water access restrictions. "It's quite simple: we need a strong lobby," said Markstein. | Many anglers agree that they might have continued existing separately for years had it not been for the increasing pressures their hobby faced in recent years, most notably from new environmental legislation and water access restrictions. "It's quite simple: we need a strong lobby," said Markstein. |
| But the real challenges are yet to come. There is talk of the differing so-called fischereiphilosophie, or fisheries philosophy, of the DAV and VDSF, which will have to be overcome if the two bodies are to work together successfully. | But the real challenges are yet to come. There is talk of the differing so-called fischereiphilosophie, or fisheries philosophy, of the DAV and VDSF, which will have to be overcome if the two bodies are to work together successfully. |
| In communist East Germany, DAV members viewed themselves as sportsmen and women who thrived on competition. Regulation was also more liberal and whoever paid the 10 ostmark membership fee had free rein to fish whenever and wherever he or she liked, and even received train-ticket discounts to enjoy the pursuit throughout East Germany. | In communist East Germany, DAV members viewed themselves as sportsmen and women who thrived on competition. Regulation was also more liberal and whoever paid the 10 ostmark membership fee had free rein to fish whenever and wherever he or she liked, and even received train-ticket discounts to enjoy the pursuit throughout East Germany. |
| In comparison, West German anglers were obliged to observe a nighttime ban, were restricted to certain waters and viewed fishing as more of an ecological than competitive pursuit. | In comparison, West German anglers were obliged to observe a nighttime ban, were restricted to certain waters and viewed fishing as more of an ecological than competitive pursuit. |
| While talk about a union has been going on for years, more serious discussions were stalled by a range of issues. West German anglers accused East Germans of co-operating closely with the communist secret police, the Stasi – indeed, former Stasi members remained active in the DAV – while East Germans accused the west of being overbearing and restrictive, and planning a hostile takeover. | While talk about a union has been going on for years, more serious discussions were stalled by a range of issues. West German anglers accused East Germans of co-operating closely with the communist secret police, the Stasi – indeed, former Stasi members remained active in the DAV – while East Germans accused the west of being overbearing and restrictive, and planning a hostile takeover. |
| But the real goodwill breakthrough came when the two sides agreed to join forces to vote for a "fish of the year". They united over the freshwater lamprey – a scaleless vertebrate, not dissimilar to an eel, that sinks its teeth into other fish and sucks their blood. A metaphor for the years of strife, perhaps? | But the real goodwill breakthrough came when the two sides agreed to join forces to vote for a "fish of the year". They united over the freshwater lamprey – a scaleless vertebrate, not dissimilar to an eel, that sinks its teeth into other fish and sucks their blood. A metaphor for the years of strife, perhaps? |
| The DAFV's new president, Christel Happach-Kasan, has said that she is determined to make the merger work, despite sceptics who say the differences, after decades of division, are too great to overcome. But that is what some critics said about German reunification and that, arguably, has come a long way. | The DAFV's new president, Christel Happach-Kasan, has said that she is determined to make the merger work, despite sceptics who say the differences, after decades of division, are too great to overcome. But that is what some critics said about German reunification and that, arguably, has come a long way. |
| Happach-Kasan, a biologist and politician from the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, has said the union "must work", adding that the endeavour is helped by the fact that, along with her passion for fishing, she is "completely untainted by a previous history in either of the two associations". | Happach-Kasan, a biologist and politician from the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, has said the union "must work", adding that the endeavour is helped by the fact that, along with her passion for fishing, she is "completely untainted by a previous history in either of the two associations". |
| "What's important now is to combine our interests and to present a united front to the outside world," she added, calling on members to show "more mutual tolerance and respect". | "What's important now is to combine our interests and to present a united front to the outside world," she added, calling on members to show "more mutual tolerance and respect". |
| Observers have remarked that the newly merged associations could set an example for motor sport and archery – the only other sports in Germany still split along eastern and western lines. | Observers have remarked that the newly merged associations could set an example for motor sport and archery – the only other sports in Germany still split along eastern and western lines. |
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