Christian Schwarz-Schilling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christian Schwarz-Schilling
|
|
|---|---|
Schwarz-Schilling in 1993
|
|
| High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| In office 1 February 2006 – 30 June 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Paddy Ashdown |
| Succeeded by | Miroslav Lajčák |
| Federal Minister for Post and Telecommunications | |
| In office 4 October 1982 – 17 December 1992 |
|
| Chancellor | Helmut Kohl |
| Preceded by | Hans Matthöfer |
| Succeeded by | Wolfgang Bötsch |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christian Schwarz-Schilling
19 November 1930 Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austrian Republic |
| Nationality | German |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union |
| Spouse | Marie-Luise Jonen |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Occupation |
|
Christian Schwarz-Schilling, born on November 19, 1930, is a German politician and a smart thinker in media and telecommunications. He was born in Austria. He is also an entrepreneur (someone who starts businesses) and a philanthropist (someone who gives money to good causes). From 2006 to 2007, he served as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a very important job in that country.
Contents
Christian Schwarz-Schilling's Early Life and Studies
Christian Schwarz-Schilling finished high school, called Abitur, in Berlin in 1950. He then went on to study History and East Asian languages and culture. He attended the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.
In 1956, he earned his Ph.D. (a very high university degree). His special research was on Chinese History. After his studies, he started a career in business.
Schwarz-Schilling's Business and Media Work
In 1957, Christian Schwarz-Schilling became a manager at a battery company called Accumulatorenfabrik Sonnenschein. This company was located in Büdingen, Germany. He worked there until 1982.
Later, from 1993 to 2002, he led his own company. It was a telecommunications consulting firm called Dr. Schwarz-Schilling & Partner GmbH. This company also operated in Büdingen.
Schwarz-Schilling also got involved in the media world. In 1971, he joined the Television Council of ZDF. ZDF is one of Germany's main public TV stations. He was part of this council until 1982. From 1975 to 1983, he led a group that planned media policies for the CDU/CSU political parties.
Schwarz-Schilling's Political Journey
Christian Schwarz-Schilling became interested in politics early on. In 1960, he joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. This is a major political party in Germany.
Starting in Regional Politics
In 1964, he joined the CDU's regional board in Hesse, a state in Germany. Two years later, in 1966, he was elected to the Hesse regional parliament. In 1967, he became the general secretary of the CDU in Hesse.
Moving to National Politics
By 1971, Schwarz-Schilling began working in national politics. He became a member of several important councils. In 1976, he was elected to the Bundestag, which is the German parliament. He remained a member of the Bundestag until 2002.
During his time in parliament, he held several key roles. He was the vice-chairman of the Small Business Union for the CDU/CSU from 1977 to 1997. He also led the European Small Business Union from 1979 to 1982. From 1981 to 1982, he chaired a special committee. This committee focused on new information and communication technology. He worked hard to bring new communication technologies to Germany.
Becoming a Federal Minister
In 1982, Christian Schwarz-Schilling was appointed Federal Minister for Post and Telecommunications. This was under Chancellor Helmut Kohl. He kept this important job for over ten years, serving in three different governments.
Some people thought he was a quiet minister. However, others saw him as someone who worked on a long-term plan to modernize Germany. Under his leadership, Germany introduced cable television. Commercial TV stations were also allowed to broadcast. He also helped privatize the German Post Office, including its telecommunications business.
Schwarz-Schilling played a big role in bringing GSM mobile phone technology to Germany. He worked with France, Germany, and Italy to develop this project. He even helped the UK join this effort. By the time he left office, Germany had one of the most modern communication systems in the world.
Resigning from Office
In 1992, Schwarz-Schilling made a strong statement. He resigned from his ministerial post. He was very upset about Germany's lack of action regarding the terrible events happening in the former Yugoslavia. He told Chancellor Kohl that he was "ashamed" to be part of a government that wasn't doing enough. He explained that he entered politics to make sure that such terrible things "never happen again."
After leaving his government role, Schwarz-Schilling tried to help solve the conflicts in Yugoslavia. This role became official in 1994 with the Washington agreement. He continued this important mediation work until 2004.
From 1995 to 2002, he also worked on human rights. He chaired a sub-committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. When it became a full committee in 1998, he served as its vice-chairperson.
International Political Work
.jpg)
On December 14, 2005, Christian Schwarz-Schilling was chosen for a very important international role. He became the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This position was created by the 1995 Dayton Agreement. He also became the EU's special representative in the country. He officially started these roles on February 1, 2006.
Schwarz-Schilling saw his role as an "advisor" to Bosnia and Herzegovina. He wanted to "listen to the people." This was different from his predecessor, Lord Ashdown. Ashdown had used his powers more strongly to pass laws and remove officials.
Under Schwarz-Schilling, the High Representative's office (OHR) became less forceful. This was partly due to pressure from the Council of Europe and more involvement from the EU. The OHR issued fewer new laws and dismissed fewer officials.
The EU decided to close the OHR by June 2007. This decision surprised and worried many people in Bosnia, including citizens, non-profit groups, and politicians. During his time, research showed that most people in Bosnia and Herzegovina were more tolerant and forward-thinking than their politicians. It also showed that some policies didn't match what the people wanted.
Schwarz-Schilling's term was the shortest for a High Representative. The German government did not support extending his term. On June 30, 2007, Slovak diplomat Miroslav Lajčák took over the position.
Awards and Recognition
Christian Schwarz-Schilling has received several honors for his work:
- In 1992, he received the Achievement Cross with Star of the Order of Achievement of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is a high honor in Germany.
- In 1995, he was given an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from Bryant College in the USA.
- In 2004, his hometown of Büdingen made him an honorary citizen.
- In 2005, he received the Manfred Wörner Medal. This award is for special service to peace and freedom in Europe.
- In 2007, he received the Hessian Peace Prize. This was for his efforts to help end the terrible events in Bosnia and Herzegovina during and after the war.
- Since 2007, Schwarz-Schilling has been teaching as a professor. He teaches at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology.
Images for kids
-
Christian Schwarz-Schilling in 1993.
