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Interview: Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the
German-American Relationship
Prior to his first trip to the United States, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke about the German-American relationship with the newspaper Bild am Sonntag on November 27, 2005. translation On Monday you are flying to the United States for your first official visit since assuming office. Could German-American relations do with a fresh start? No, we don't need a fresh start in our relationship! Of course Germany and the United States had differing views and assessments regarding events in Iraq. We are holding firm to our viewpoint for good reason… The CDU/CSU does not want to send German soldiers to Iraq either. What new impetus do you want to give German-American relations? The United States and Germany have common interests and objectives regarding the vast majority of issues. We support Washington in all its endeavors towards giving peace in the Middle East a chance. And we want to make good progress together on climate protection. The terrible hurricanes in the southern United States triggered new reflection in the people of America as well. How well do you know the US Secretary of State? I know Condoleezza Rice from her visits to the Federal Chancellery. She called me immediately after my appointment and invited me to Washington. We have already cooperated closely this week with regard to the Iran dispute. The CIA has allegedly kidnapped supposed Islamist terrorists and used Frankfurt Airport for secret flights. Do you think it acceptable that the US did not inform you of this? The Foreign Minister must evaluate facts, not newspaper reports. The things that appeared in the paper would indeed be worrying if they were true. That is why it is good that the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, is going to ask the US officially for clarification on behalf of the European Union. How reliably are the United States and Europe working together to prevent Iran getting hold of nuclear weapons? Cooperation between the United States and Europe on Iran is very reliable. We will show Iran in the days ahead that we are serious about the willingness to negotiate. Iran can and should use nuclear power stations peacefully, but it must remove the international community's profound concern that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons. No-one is pushing to go to the UN Security Council, but if Iran does not give way (this step) could become unavoidable. Do you think it possible that the conflict could escalate into war? I cannot imagine so. I am sure that the Iranian Government too recognizes that it is dependent on the international community. Besides, no-one in the world wants to further inflame the Middle East conflict. The real drama of this conflict is that Iran could have the potential to be an anchor of stability in the region. I wish Iran would recognize this opportunity. Will we Germans have to further intensify our role as peacemakers in the world in future? Yes, we will. My first official actions this week were to send German police and customs officers to secure and monitor the borders in Moldova and Palestine. However, the new Federal Government will calculate the risks very precisely in each individual case and take care not to overreach ourselves. How long will the Bundeswehr have to stay in Afghanistan? The Bundeswehr is continuing to make a decisive contribution to the development of democracy and the economy in Afghanistan. For this reason it will have to remain there for many years yet. Does the Holocaust, even 60 years after the end of the War, limit us to a "culture of restraint"? Given the end of the Cold War and the new role many expect us to assume
in the world, "restraint" is no longer the correct term. I would
rather put it like this: with an eye to our own history, it may be advisable
for us Germans to avoid any degree of showiness in our relations with
third parties. (…) Links
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