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The Week in Germany: Year in Review
December 22, 2006
Current Affairs
The past year was one of exciting developments in German-US relations,
including a special visit by President George W. Bush with Chancellor
Angela Merkel in Germany. The President also welcomed new German Ambassador
to the United States Klaus Scharioth to Washington. At the same time,
it was an eventful year for the German-Jewish community: the historic
ordination of three rabbis was cause for celebration, as was the opening
of a grand new synagogue. In 2006, the German government moreover made
great strides in fostering interfaith dialogue at national level and addressing
key questions of migration and integration. Germany also continued its
commitment to peacekeeping and to alleviate suffering in poor regions
around the world. Sadly, two prominent voices of tolerance and humanism
were lost - former German President Johannes Rau and Paul Spiegel, the
former leader of Germany's main Jewish organization. Yet their successors,
and many others, are keeping their memory - and life's work - alive.
Preparing for the EU Presidency
Germany takes on two major supranational leadership roles in 2007: the
presidencies of the G8, the group of eight leading industrialized nations,
and the EU, which will expand into a bloc of 27 countries in January.
The German government was busy preparing for both presidencies throughout
2006.
German
EU Presidency (December 15)
Chancellor Angela Merkel outlined three key priorities during a recent
interview (includes links to key websites).
 Conditions
Good for German EU Presidency (Dec. 20)
Chancellor
Merkel on Germany's Double Presidency (Dec. 14)
Scharioth
Shares EU's Lessons with Students (May 9)
Talking
About Europe With Ambassador Scharioth (Oct. 20)
The
European Union (from Germany.info)
Mr. Scharioth Goes to Washington
Following on from 2005, there was good news again in 2006 for all those
who are committed to a strong and lasting friendship between Germans and
Americans. In January, Merkel came to Washington as Germany's first female
chancellor. And in July, President Bush paid a visit to Stralsund —
Chancellor Merkel's home constituency. Back in Washington, on October
3, former president George Bush was a guest of honor at the German Embassy's
biggest event of the year to mark the Day of German Unity.
German-US
Relations (from Germany.info)
Former
President Bush and Chancellor Kohl Speak at Embassy's Day of German Unity
Celebration
German
Unity 2006: Celebrating with Statesmen
German-American Day (October 6)
Proclamation
by President Bush
Greeting
by Ambassador Scharioth
US
Army General Norman Schwarzkopf Honored as Distinguished German-American
of the Year (November 3)
Warm
Welcome for President Bush in Stralsund (July 14)
Welcoming US President Georg Bush to Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel
thanked the United States for its contribution to German unification —
and was eager to show her guest how people in her home state are working
hard for their own future.
Merkel
and Bush Talk in White House (January 13)
Merkel
and Bush: International Unity on Iran (May 5)
Bush
Praises US-German Cooperation (May 12)
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| White House: Ambassador Scharioth presented his
credentials to President Bush at a meeting in the Oval Office on March
13. White House Photo by Eric Draper |
New
Ambassador Meets President Bush (March 17)
Klaus Scharioth, Germany's new ambassador to Washington, presented his
credentials to President Bush, saying he "looks forward with joy
and optimism to the task of fostering relations between our two nations."
Ambassador's
Corner (updated continuously)
Scharioth
Praises Bush Senior (September 1)
A
Message on German Unity (September 29)
Embassy
Attraction (April 7)
Postcards from Germany
A roundup of select political news from the past year.
Social
Democrats Get New Leader (May 19)
Lawmakers
okay "the mother of all reforms" (July 7)
Integration
Summit a Success (July 21)
Germany
Among the Safest Places in the World (Nov. 24)
Germany
Heads for a Patchwork of Smoking Bans (Dec.15)
Merkel Moments
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| Angela Merkel |
A roundup of some of the most memorable moments and messages in the German
Chancellor's year.
I
Believe in Germany (January 6)
100th
Day of Grand Coalition (March 3)
Weekly
Podcast (June 9)
Most
Powerful Woman (September 1)
Day
of German Unity (October 3)
Seal
of Approval from Own Party (Dec. 1)
Lost Voices of Tolerance
Former
President Rau Laid to Rest (February 10)
Some 1,500 mourners bade an emotional farewell to former German President
Johannes Rau at a state funeral for a man remembered as a champion of
tolerance, justice and reconciliation.
Paul
Spiegel, Jewish Community Leader, Dies (May 5)
Germany bade farewell to Paul Spiegel, the head of the country's main
Jewish organization, who died at the age of 68 after a long illness.
Cause for Celebration in the Jewish Community
First
Rabbis Ordained in Germany in 64 Years (September 15)
The first rabbis to be ordained in Germany since the Nazi era took their
vows at a synagogue in Dresden on September 14.
New
Generation of Rabbis to be Trained in Germany (May 26)
New
Synagogue and Jewish Center Opens in Munich (Nov. 10)
"Today we can show the entire world that Hitler did not succeed in
annihilating us," said Charlotte Knobloch, leader of the Central
Council of Jews in Germany.
Congrats
for New Jewish Community Chief (June 9)
World
Jewish Congress Meets in Berlin (June 30)
Humanitarian Help
Around the world, Germany provided a helping hand to victims of natural
disasters and political upheaval. As the German government called for
more concerted efforts in tackling disasters like drought and famine,
the country was praised for increasing its own development aid. Meanwhile
in Afghanistan, German peacekeepers continued their efforts to bring peace
to communities still reeling from decades of oppression.
Germany
Praised for Commitment to World's Poor (Feb. 24)
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has praised
Germany's commitment to increase its official development assistance to
the world's poorest nations.
Renewed
Commitment to Afghanistan (February 3)
New
German Help for Pakistan's Quake Zone (January 6)
New
Aid for East African Drought Zone (January 20)
Germany
Rushes Help to Earthquake Victims (June 2)
Government
Okays Congo Mission (May 19)
Delivery
Giant to Speed Relief Aid (June 16)
UN
Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon (September 15)
German
Aid to Rebuild Police Force in Afghanistan (Oct. 27)
Emergency
Aid Projects in Somalia and Kenya (Nov. 20)
More
Aid to Support Police Building in Afghanistan (Dec. 8)
Development
Policy Should Target "Silent Disasters" (Feb. 17)
The world's poorest countries need speedy assistance to address "silent
disasters" like drought and famine, German Development Minister Heidemarie
Wieczorek-Zeul has said.
President:
Africa on Path to Progress (April 14)
German President Horst Köhler wrapped up a ten-day tour of southern
Africa designed to promote economic reforms, educational opportunities
and environmental protection.
Peace
Corps, German Counterpart to Cooperate (May 12)
The German Development Service entered into a historic agreement with
its US counterpart, the Peace Corps, enabling American and German volunteers
to officially join forces on a wide variety of projects across the globe.
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