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Steinmeier Interview: Iraq, Kosovo and Russian Energy
"Execution could make a martyr of Saddam" Bild am Sonntag: Dr Steinmeier, what effect has Saddam's execution and the circumstances surrounding it had on the situation in Iraq? Frank-Walter Steinmeier: The impact of Saddam's execution on the situation in Iraq is not yet entirely clear. Certainly there is a risk that the decision to carry out the execution on an Islamic religious holiday and its circulation via the media will provide grounds for Saddam Hussein to become a martyr in the eyes of his followers. The first indications of this are the many visitors to his grave. However, it is not yet clear whether the violence in Iraq will escalate further. The United States would like more European assistance in Iraq. What can Germany do to stabilize the country? We will abide by our decision not to send German soldiers to Iraq. Neither can we justify encouraging civilian organizations such as the Federal Agency for Technical Relief or the Red Cross to participate in missions in Iraq in view of the very dangerous security situation there. However, we will continue our alternative efforts outside Iraq, by providing training for Iraqi security forces, judges and administrative personnel, for example. You have been the Foreign Minister of the EU Presidency since 1 January … Yes, and I only actually realized that when I was standing in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, with my wife on New Year's Eve, looking into hundreds of thousands of expectant faces. For the people in Romania and Bulgaria, the post-war period has only just come to an end with their admission into the EU. They look to the EU full of hope and confidence, even though they know that they still have a long and hard road ahead of them. This EU Presidency is a great additional responsibility! What do you see as the biggest problem in 2007? Right at the beginning of the year we will have to do something about Kosovo. The imminent decision on its future status is closely linked to the issue of stability in the Balkans. The EU, which will take over responsibility from the UN, will do everything in its power to prevent the eruption of new conflicts with Serbia. We want to build a functioning community in Kosovo, in which all citizens, Albanians and Serbs alike, can live in peace and security. To achieve this, the EU will second police officers as well as judicial and administrative officials to the region. How heavily will Germany be involved in this process? I can't give you precise figures at the moment, but of course we can and will shoulder our responsibility in Kosovo within the framework of the EU. It will cost money, and we will need personnel. But you only have to cast your mind back to the horrors of the wars in the Balkans during the 1990s to realize that stability in the region is a very precious commodity which deserves our wholehearted commitment. You have visited Latin America, the Maghreb and Central Asia in your role as Minister for Foreign Affairs. What strategy are you pursuing? Foreign and economic policy are interrelated. We want to retain the strong position the European Internal Market enjoys. And as Germans we want to maintain our status as the world's leading exporter. That is why stability in the regions which purchase our goods and services has to be of concern to us. In addition, we must ensure that we can supply our highly developed economy with energy and raw materials. Do you think German managers have a foothold in all interesting markets? We aren't the world's leading exporter for nothing, but German enterprises still have a lot to do! The potential for our products on external markets has not been exhausted by any means – and our global presence certainly has scope for expansion. We intend to do what we can to support developments in this area. That is why I regularly ask German business representatives to accompany me on my trips abroad. Russia is the EU's largest energy supplier – and is playing a tough power game. Does that worry you? Occasional developments in Russia do give us cause for concern. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are united with Russia by more than just a common European history. It is in our interests for Russia to embrace European values and to continue to orient itself towards Europe. On this basis we should seek arrangements which allow us to interact fairly with one another. Have Europeans become too dependent on Russia with regard to their energy policy? Germany is less dependent on Russian energy than some other European countries, not least because we opted for an intelligent energy mix from an early stage. Nonetheless, we will continue to depend on Russia for our gas supply. For this reason, as a foreign policy maker I have the responsibility to ensure that energy resources do not degenerate into a mere tool of power with mounting conflict potential. We must create appropriate regulations to prevent this. At the same time we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Interviewers: Bernhard Kellner and Martin S. Lambeck January 10, 2007 Links
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