1 //
Foreign Minister, what did you feel on 3 October 1990?
I was very happy that we had become one country and that we’d been given the chance to show the world what freedom means.
2 //
This year Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of German unification. What does this 3 October mean to you personally?
It teaches us that in 20 years of unity some things take time.
3 //
What, in your opinion, are the most significant political and social changes that have taken place in Germany during these years? What is your assessment of the growing together of east and west over these past two decades?
The last twenty years have shown that the slogan “We are one people!” reflects reality. To my mind this pinpoints the essence of successful German unity. It’s virtually impossible to score points in public debates anymore by using east-west polarization. Today we define ourselves as Germans and Europeans.
4 //
Germany’s attainment of complete sovereignty was also accompanied by a strongly established foreign policy responsibility. What are the key features of Germany’s foreign policy today?
To put it simply: German foreign policy aims to secure peace in Europe, to strengthen Europe and to shape globalization. All of the individual measures can be derived from these key concepts.
Take disarmament, for instance. Disarmament isn’t an unrealistic dream. It’s essential in the globalized world. That’s why we’re active in all areas concerning this subject. We promote the dual commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation as enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty developed in the 1960s. We are also endeavouring to increase the control of conventional weapons. We want to ensure that the ban on cluster munitions gains international recognition.
5 //
The world hasn’t become safer since the ending of the East-West conflict. What contributions is Germany making at the diplomatic level towards security and freedom in the world?
Securing peace in the world is one of the pillars of German foreign policy. Here are some examples: our involvement in Afghanistan is helping to neutralize terrorism in that region. Together with our partners we are trying to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. And together with the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana, Germany is supporting the training of African soldiers for international peacekeeping missions.
6 //
Increased responsibility also involves increased pressures. Involvement in Afghanistan is currently in a difficult phase. What are the future prospects for this involvement?
At the London Conference on Afghanistan we, and 70 other states, decided on a new strategy. Our activities are centred on the building of civil society and the protection of the population. At the same time we’re aiming towards developing a perspective for the withdrawal of our troops. This means that Afghanistan has to develop the ability to take care of its own security as quickly as possible. That’s why we have substantially increased our capacity for training the Afghan army and the police.
On the other hand, we’re also taking the Afghans by their word. The Afghan government has to take more decisive steps against nepotism and corruption.
7 //
Germany’s history of division gives it a special responsibility for dialogue between eastern and western Europe. What concrete contribution can German foreign policy make in this respect?
I agree entirely. Because of its history, but also because of its geographical position at the heart of Europe, Germany does have a special role to play. That’s why I made it my objective when I came into office to cultivate equally good and close relations with our eastern neighbours as those with our western neighbours. We want to carry on deepening the multifaceted ties at the political, economic, cultural and social level. For example, as soon as I took office I began reviving the Weimar Triangle, the group designed to promote cooperation between Germany, France and Poland.
8 //
Putting the question of the current economic crisis to one side for the moment, does Europe need a new vision, new goals? What kind of new departure can you envisage?
The European Union is a unique success story. Today Europe is a peaceful community with shared values. We are able to look back on an unprecedented period of peace and stability, economic growth and social progress in the history of our continent. And the world respects us because of this. It is our aim and our task to preserve this.
Nevertheless, we mustn’t stand still. We have to ensure that we, as Europeans, help to shape globalization. The great questions concerning the future – climate change, disarmament, energy security – will be decided without us, if we don’t speak with one voice. We need a strong union that’s capable of action. That’s why it’s so important to use the opportunities offered by the office of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Foreign Service.
9 //
Germany did particularly well in the latest BBC survey. Germany’s influence is rated as more positive than negative. What do you think are the reasons for this?
One reason most likely lies in the association of Germany with classic virtues, such as reliability, and the country’s high-quality products. It is also the result of a dependable and value-oriented foreign policy. For decades Germany has supported an active peace policy, dialogue and the reconciliation of interests and demonstrated a clear commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. In addition, the survey result can be attributed to individual events, such as the 2006 World Cup in our country when we showed the peoples of the world that it was “a time to make friends”. We have all contributed to this, so the result of the survey can make us all a little proud.
10 //
This year Germany is seeking a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. What are your arguments in support of this candidature?
We have justifiable strengths: Germany is the third largest financial contributor to the United Nations. We are involved in United Nations peace missions throughout the world. We are playing an active role in the reform debate within the United Nations. And in this context we will continue to be a talking partner, especially for the small nations. ///
