Dawid Statnik at the New Year's reception by Federal President Steinmeier

11.01.2023

At the invitation of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Domowina Chairman Dawid Statnik attended the New Year's reception at Bellevue Palace in Berlin on January 10, 2023. Together with his wife Elke Büdenbender, the Federal President welcomed around 70 people from all federal states, whom he thanked for their outstanding voluntary commitment in the most diverse areas of society.

One of the invited guests from politics, business, trade unions, culture and civil society was Statnik in his capacity as Chairman of the Minority Council of Germany's four autochthonous national minorities. The council represents the interests of the Danes, Frisians, Sorbs and Sinti and Roma at federal level. At the beginning of the year, Statnik took over from the previous chair Gitte Hougaard Werner, who is also chair of the Danish minority Sydslesvigsk Forening (SSF). The chairmanship of the minority council changes every year and he is now in office for the fourth time. Statnik: “The Minority Council is an outstanding example of social cohesion. Even if we are united by the issue of minorities, the respective concerns and characteristics of the Sinti and Roma, the Frisian ethnic group, the Danish minority and the Lusatian Sorbs are very different. The Minority Council supports them in representing their interests together at federal level and thus achieving success for everyone.

I am pleased to be able to lead the Minority Council again. In particular, contact with the Bundestag and the parties should be further expanded and consolidated this year.”

Press release from Domowina from January 11th, 2023

Photo: Federal Government / Rekulowitsch