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Supporting Reforms in North African Countries
With his recent trip to Libya and Algeria, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder demonstrated Germany’s support for the efforts toward stabilization in the region and said that he wants to help make irreversible the political openness and market-economy reforms that have begun. “Without peace, development is not possible and conversely, without development, neither is peace,” Schröder said in emphasizing development in the region that neighbors Europe. Only if one can open to the people economic prospects can one “immunize” them against being used by extremist and terrorist forces, the Chancellor said at the conclusion of his trip on October 16. The German government would like to see a deepening of the Barcelona Process between the European Union and the countries of the Mediterranean region. Algeria is already a member of this Mediterranean partnership; which involves governmental and non-governmental institutions in nine countries, including Israel, as well as the Palestinian territories. Libya, currently active only as an observer, has indicated interest in membership. Germany supports this. The time has come for Libya to strengthen its ties to the EU, the Chancellor said, adding that Libya can play an important “bridge” role between Africa, the Arab world, and Europe. The Chancellor was accompanied on the trip by an economic delegation of representatives from German medium and large-sized businesses. Meetings with Gaddafi in Libya Libya is Germany's fourth-largest supplier of oil and most German investments in Libya are in the oil sector. After Italy, Germany is the second-largest purchaser of Libyan oil and the second-most important exporter to Libya. The Chancellor’s visit to Libya on October 14 and 15 marked a new beginning in bilateral relations; bilateral relations between Germany and Libya are now to be normalized. An agreement on Libyan compensation payments for the victims of the 1986 La Belle nightclub bombing was reached in August 2004. Libya’s renunciation of weapons of mass destruction and its decision to stop supporting terrorist groups have been important in this. Libya has joined the alliance against international terrorism and is cooperating closely with the West in this area. The Libyan government has also signed all twelve UN antiterrorism conventions. Chancellor Schröder praised this change of policy on the part of Muammar Gaddafi. Support for Algerian Reforms
In Algeria, where the Chancellor met with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Schröder praised Algeria’s reform course and assured that it can count on Germany’s support as it moves further towards democracy, the rule of law and a market economy and noted that Algeria has been effective in combating terrorism perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists. Germany and Algeria intend to continue to expand their economic relationship. The office of a “coordinator of German-Algerian economic relations” is to be created in Algiers in mid-November. October 19, 2004 Links Foreign
Office Information: Relations between Germany and Libya
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