Interview with Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Der Spiegel, 15 November 2009

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With Angela Merkel you have alongside you a very experienced and internationally influential Chancellor. How do you see your own role in the making of foreign policy?

I stand for continuity in German foreign policy. Of course I have ideas of my own, notably as regards disarmament or, in the context of Europe, about the importance of treating geographically smaller countries with respect, as equal partners. It was also a conscious decision on my part to make my first trip abroad to Poland. We have a thriving, deep rooted friendship with France. This kind of intersocietal friendship is something we must build with our eastern neighbours as well.

With Erika Steinbach, the President of the League of Expellees, you’ve right away got a problem on your hands here. She says she now wants a seat on the Board of the Foundation Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation. Poland is absolutely against it.

No nomination of Ms Steinbach has yet landed on my desk. It’s not for nothing that the idea of “reconciliation” is part of the Foundation’s name. The German Government will clearly not decide anything that runs counter to this idea.

Have you discussed with Ms Merkel at all whether she’s of the same opinion?

The Chancellor knows my view. In this post I have a head of my own and a special responsibility. As foreign minister I will not allow the relationship between Germany and Poland, which is difficult anyway on account of our history, to be jeopardized by any kind of imprudence. While I reject excessive criticism of her, I note that my fellow parliamentarian Steinbach opposed the official policy of the government of Helmut Kohl and Hans Dietrich Genscher and voted against recognition of the German-Polish border. So it’s not surprising people in Poland have misgivings. I hope and trust the League of Expellees wants this reconciliation project to be a success and will ensure its nominees are a wise choice. If not, it will be up to me.

Your biggest foreign policy challenge is Afghanistan. How does one work with a president who’s rigged the elections to stay in power?

The crucial thing is to make it very clear to the President, now he’s elected for a second term, what we expect from him: good governance and action on corruption. On that score I see eye to eye with all our allies and especially Hillary Clinton. Particularly given the many doubts about the electoral process, President Karzai must strive to be president of all Afghans. That’s what we’ll insist on.

US President Barack Obama is likely to call for increased engagement by the allies in Afghanistan. What more can Germany do?

We’re still in the process of discussing realistic goals and a joint strategy. Only after that can we talk about what resources we’ll together need to muster. What we’re doing to help Afghanistan take responsibility for its own security by training and developing the police force, for example, is highly appreciated.

You’re this country’s first homosexual foreign minister. Does that make any difference?

I’ve been party chair for nearly nine years now and during that time I regularly made official trips abroad. Never once was there any kind of problem or embarrassment because I live with another man. Nor do I expect anything of the kind now I’m foreign minister.

Will that also be the case in Islamic countries? In some homosexuality carries the death penalty.

There are countries where women are systematically oppressed. There are countries where women are treated in ways we find shocking. Despite this the Germans have consciously chosen to make a woman head of government.

You’re not worried you might be treated with disrespect?

No, for I’ve never encountered that in the past either. It would be an admission of moral bankruptcy, by the way, if we were to become less liberal because others don’t share our views. I see it as a measure of how truly liberal our society is in Germany that the fact I as a man live with another man hasn’t really been a factor.

There’s now greater acceptance of homosexuals in Germany. Do you think you’ve played any part in this?

I’ve contributed something perhaps, but that’s no reason to take any credit. I live my life with my companion for life. We don’t hide our relationship but don’t showcase it either. From the many letters I’ve received, I know this laid back approach also gives encouragement to many younger people who are in search of their identity, haven’t yet found their path and are still agonizing over it.

Mr Westerwelle, thank you for your time.

Copyright: SPIEGEL 47/2009