Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today (18 March) met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.

The talks focused on bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear programme.

Federal Minister Westerwelle and Deputy Prime Minister Al-Attiyah agreed that economic and political cooperation between Germany and Qatar should be even further intensified. There were good opportunities in Qatar for German companies, particularly in the fields of energy production, renewable energy and transport/logistics.

With regard to the Middle East conflict, both men expressed their conviction that the peace process must be revived as quickly as possible. The expansion of Israeli settlement activities did not comply with the principles of the road map, which envisages the freezing of such activities.

With respect to Iran’s nuclear programme, Federal Minister Westerwelle emphasized that Iran's continuing refusal to comply could not fail to trigger a response on the part of the international community.

• Qatar
• Broader Middle East
• The conflict surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme

Their talks will focus on current developments in the Middle East Peace Process.

• Broader Middle East

“I note that the Vietnamese authorities have granted Father Ly a temporary, one-year release from detention. This is a step in the right direction that must now be followed by his unconditional release. Given his serious state of health, I sincerely wish Father Ly a full recovery.

At the same time I appeal to the authorities in Viet Nam to meet their international obligations and release all political prisoners of conscience.”

The Roman Catholic Father Nguyen Van Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison for anti-government activities. He is one of the most prominent Vietnamese political prisoners internationally. In 2009 he suffered two strokes. The German Government has made several high-level appeals for his release in recent months.

• Human rights policy

During the last reading it is first and foremost the parliament that should have the chance to speak, which is why I will take only a few minutes of your time. Before I speak about peace policy and an important issue that will affect the work of all of us in this House, I would like to make three introductory remarks.

First, I would like to sincerely thank the rapporteurs and the entire Budget Committee. I would like to thank you, Mr Frankenhauser, Mr Brandner, Mr Koppelin, Mr Kindler and Mr Leutert. On behalf of the entire Federal Foreign Office, thank you for the excellent cooperation.

Second, Ms Künast, this morning I listened to your speech, like the rest of the debate, very attentively. You called on us as the new governing coalition and on me, in a critical tone, to do more about the scandalous increase in German arms exports. I would first like to share a statement from 15 March 2010 by the SIPRI institute in Stockholm which investigated and criticized this issue because the impression is being given here that the new Federal Government quickly threw together a few submarines in the last few weeks and exported them to other parts of the world. I am quoting from a report on the issue:

The author showed little understanding for the criticism expressed by Claudia Roth, chairwoman of The Greens, on the increase in German arms exports.

Here is the quote:

“Most of the contracts that contributed to this doubling were signed while the red-green coalition (The SPD-The Greens) was in power.”

Third, Ms Künast, you said it wasn’t me who discovered Brazil.

[...]

I would like to say the following regarding this comment: Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese explorer Cabral. He arrived with 13 ships. So, it seems that people in Portugal 500 years ago already understood that, at times, delegations can help promote a country’s interests.

[...]

This brings me to my fourth point, which I would like to discuss in a bit more detail. First let me address you, Mr Brandner. You correctly pointed out that continuity plays a significant role in Germany’s foreign policy as well as the corresponding budget. This will continue to be the case.

This is not a transitional budget we’re working on, indeed in the last legislative term – and this is something I will continue to do as a Federal Minister – I strongly praised the fact that particularly under Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier, it became possible for our cultural relations and education policy to grow.

I stand by that. I intend to continue this policy. Though you may have criticism in other policy areas, I am asking for your support on this because the time will come when I will have to fight for cultural relations and education policy in the Budget Committee.

This request is directed to everyone because I believe that the best “business card” for our country is supporting cultural relations and education policy.

This is not an attack, but rather a case that I would like to make because I believe this House has an interest in this issue that transcends party lines.

Finally, I would like to offer some thoughts on a key issue. There is still much to be discussed. We have already discussed quite a few aspects in the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Over the next week, we will discuss the European External Action Service that has to be established. As you know, there is a lot to be done to ensure that German interests can be realized in this area and, most importantly, that in the end we have a good, powerful, capable European External Action Service. I can tell you – we still have a long way to go.

There are aspects of economic promotion that will be the subject of controversial discussion in this House. I hope, however, that there is one point we can all agree on. Up to now, a key feature of German foreign policy has been peace policy.

[…] In contrast to you, Mr Gehrcke, I believe that if German foreign policy had not been peace policy in the past decades, we never would have experienced the joy of a united Germany. This is my firm belief.

It is not about who did what, whether it was Willy Brandt, Walter Scheel, Helmut Kohl or Hans-Dietrich Genscher. There is general consensus on this.

I would like to warn you that if we are not careful, we will end up with a decade of rearmament rather than disarmament.

I believe that we will have to have an intensive discussion on this problem here in this House – not today, but in many expert debates.

This is the actual threat we are facing: that we will not experience a decade of disarmament, the possibility of which was opened up by a hopeful speech given by President Obama in Prague; but that instead this decade we will see nuclear proliferation suddenly become the norm among states that were not on our radar.

It is right to discuss human rights. I have done this, as you and your colleagues that accompanied me on my travels know. We discuss, for example, the human rights situation in Iran. I would like to ask all of us to remember the core of the problem. When it comes to Iran, and I’m mentioning this because it’s currently the subject of negotiations at the United Nations in New York, the central problem is that if we permit a country to develop the option of producing nuclear weapons, a country that does not cooperate with the international community and is not transparent in its actions, it is only a matter of time until other states in this region – or indeed around the world obtain the capability to produce nuclear weapons over the next ten years.

There have always been two components to nuclear non-proliferation. The first was to discourage countries that want nuclear weapons from building them illegally. The second is an obligation on the part of the nuclear states to disarm, but without making it easier to wage conventional wars. I predict that this will be a key concern, a concern we will hopefully address together in addition to the hectic day-to-day politics and all the issues that have to be intensively debated in a democracy. It is something I am very worried about. There have obviously been a few steps backward with regard to Iran, or in another very worrying development, with regard to the Middle East conflict. Particularly if you consider that just in the last week the settlement policy has been continued. There is no point in beating around the bush – everyone knows that we are a friend of Israel. But if you want to achieve a peace process, you have to be prepared to meet the international demand to stop building settlements. This is a precondition for ensuring that the process can succeed. This comment is directed towards both sides. That is the new dimension.

That has always been our rule: when you address an issue in this House, it should not always just be criticism directed at your predecessor or an attack on someone who might have failed to do something. No, the challenge on the agenda is new. I believe German foreign policy has two trademarks: disarmament and peace policy. That is what I wanted to contribute to this general debate today.

Thank you for your attention.

“The Chinese Government has communicated that the human rights lawyer and civil rights activist Gao Zhisheng has again been detained for subverting state power.

Gao Zhisheng disappeared without a trace more than a year ago obviously at the hands of the Chinese leadership. I call upon the Chinese Government to release Gao Zhisheng immediately and with him all political prisoners – those of whom we know and the countless prisoners of whom we know nothing.”

Gao Zhisheng is one of China’s leading human rights lawyers. He worked to defend above all persecuted followers of the Falun Gong movement and for those whose land had been seized. For many years he courageously fought human rights violations and stood up for more justice in China.

Both the German Government and the European Union have endeavoured to help him in the past.

• Human rights policy

1. Hans-Ulrich Klose is to be appointed Coordinator of German-American Cooperation. He has been a Member of the German Bundestag since 1983, Chairman of the German-American Parliamentary Friendship Group since 2003 and is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

2. Markus Löning is to become the new Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office. He was a Member of the German Bundestag from 2002 to 2009 and has been active in the sphere of human and civil rights issues for many years.

3. Ambassador Michael Steiner is to be the new Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is currently serving as Germany’s Ambassador to Italy.

Andreas Schockenhoff, Member of the German Bundestag, has already been appointed Coordinator of German-Russian Intersocietal Cooperation, Minister of State Werner Hoyer, has been made Commissioner for Franco-German Cooperation, while Minister of State Cornelia Pieper has been named Coordinator of German-Polish Intersocietal and Cross-Border Cooperation.

The talks focused on the Middle East peace process and the current situation in Lebanon, the UNIFIL mission as well as the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Federal Minister Westerwelle and Prime Minister Hariri agreed that the Middle East peace process must be set in motion again as quickly as possible. Westerwelle emphasized that everything had to be done to ensure that the parties to the conflict engage in indirect peace talks. Referring to the recent Israeli announcement that further homes are to be built in East Jerusalem, the Federal Foreign Minister reiterated that the road map, which sets out the clear position of Germany and the international community, provides for a freeze on settlement activities.

• Broader Middle East

“The human remains found in Yemen are almost certainly not those of the German hostages. The Federal Government will continue to do all it can to secure the release of our fellow Germans held captive in that country.”

The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa remains critical. According to UN figures, over two million people are internally displaced. The situation is particularly dire in the country’s eastern Kivu Provinces, where attacks by the rebel FDLR faction continue. A similar situation exists in the north-eastern Orientale Province, where since early this year the civilian population has repeatedly been attacked by the so called Lord’s Resistance Army. There are also pressing humanitarian needs in the Equateur border region and the neighbouring Republic of the Congo, where since the beginning of the year some 200,000 people have sought shelter.

For more information on the humanitarian assistance provided by the Federal Foreign Office please consult:

• Humanitarian aid

The two foreign ministers agreed that a window of opportunity had opened in the rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey. Federal Minister Westerwelle stressed that both sides had to do all they could to maintain the momentum of rapprochement and to make sure the signed protocols will be ratified as soon as possible.

Regarding the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict, Federal Minister Westerwelle underlined the need to comprehensively implement the interim status along the road to a permanent solution.

Read more on Germany's bilateral relations to Armenia:

• Armenia

Their meeting will concentrate on the situation in the southern Caucasus and current international issues.

Read more on Germany's bilsteral relations to Armenia:

• Armenia

Talks will focus on the Middle East peace process, the current situation in Lebanon as well as bilateral issues.

• Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Situation in Lebanon
• Lebanon

Mr Porto,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to begin by thanking you most warmly for inviting me here today and giving me the opportunity to exchange views with you in this important chamber of commerce abroad.

I remember my last visit to São Paulo and the Chamber of Commerce here in Santo Amaro very well. That was in April 2003, on the other side of the building. I recall with pleasure our discussions, which focussed on the opportunities that São Paulo has to offer to German business, but also on the challenges that the city, indeed the whole country, and companies must rise to meet.

Since then progress has been made in Brazil. Brazil has become more prosperous and an international heavyweight. Brazil plays a major role in the United Nations, the G20, the World Trade Organization and in international climate negotiations. We frequently pursue the same policies, whether it be strengthening the UN, our joint efforts on global disarmament, or seeking a stable financial order. Our ever closer global cooperation is based on our traditionally strong bilateral ties, which we want to intensify further.

The Federal Government intends to make Latin America a key focus of German foreign policy. Germany intends to redefine its relations with Latin America within a comprehensive new strategy. Work on this has been at full steam since I took office.

New ideas are bound to emerge from this year’s Ambassadors Conference at the Federal Foreign Office, which will be dedicated to the region of Latin America. There we will continue to formulate precisely the Federal Government’s policy towards Latin America.

We are not starting from zero. Our two continents share fundamental common values. They include democracy and the rule of law, the need for international cooperation and the primacy of international law. We share a very similar understanding of the value of individual freedom. This binds us together. Our policy towards Latin America builds on the long tradition uniting Germany with the countries of Latin America.

We can use actual figures to illustrate this connection: with a trade volume of almost 20 billion euro, Germany is one of Brazil’s major trade partners, and Brazil is Germany’s most important trade partner in Latin America. These close economic ties bring advantages to both parties and we would like to exploit and extend them. Brazil has weathered the worst storms of the world economic crisis and made a particularly rapid recovery. Economic growth of 5% is being forecast for Brazil in 2010. The subsidiaries of many German companies in Brazil, which are particularly numerous here in São Paulo, have largely survived the crisis in good shape. Many German companies have further increased their investments in Brazil because of the resilience of their Brazilian subsidiaries. I am very pleased for Brazil. However, I am also pleased for Germany, because when business abroad is going well that is also good for jobs at home.

As Foreign Minister I intend to support German business with every means at my disposal: by promoting external economic affairs, backing this up with policies and using the tools of economic cooperation. I intend to pursue external economic promotion not with timidity but with vigour, so that it becomes firmly anchored in German foreign policy.

Soon after taking office I saw to it that strategies were conceptualized aimed at enhancing Germany’s external economic policy. We want to open up external economic promotion to other sectors and make it more attractive to them. Promoting smaller and medium-sized companies is particularly important in my view, for these form the backbone of the German economy. The Brazilian economy has made considerable progress along the consolidation road. The middle class is growing fast and with it the internal market. We want to make the opportunities that are opening up in this market accessible to still more small and medium-sized businesses. Lending support to such companies will also be a focus of my foreign policy.

There are great opportunities ahead for Brazil in view of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. We want to show active support for Brazil by sharing our own experiences of preparing for large-scale sporting events. German companies can play a key role in transferring knowledge. Infrastructure development offers particular opportunities here. The Brazilian Government has put together a special package to promote infrastructure development. Whether we are talking about road and stadium construction, public transport systems, modernizing the air- and seaports or the rail- and waterways, German companies can make a major contribution. They can also apply their expertise when it comes to tourism marketing and security planning for large-scale events. We like to stand by our friends as they welcome guests.

German business was responsible for initiating the WinWin Initiative 2014/16. Within this framework German companies are coming together to prepare for potential projects in connection with the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. Needless to say, this Chamber of Commerce Abroad, is one of the partners in the project. I am delighted that the Chairman of this initiative, Dr Zoller, is accompanying me on this tour. Dr Zoller is not only a high profile entrepreneur but also Chairman of the “Brazil Board” of the Federation of German Industries. The Brazil Board is there to support the long-term expansion of our economic relations with Brazil and is only the second of its kind, after the US Board, to be established by German industry. This demonstrates how much significance is attached to German-Brazilian economic relations and how closely our economies are linked.

We want to use these close economic ties as a basis for closer political cooperation and here will be exploring new avenues. The impressive developments that have taken place in Brazil make new cooperation projects both possible and necessary. President Lula da Silva himself spoke of a “third phase” in German-Brazilian relations when he visited Germany in December last year. He said that after German immigration to Brazil in the 19th century and the industrialization of the country – with the German car industry acting as catalyst – in the 20th century, the two countries were now entering the third phase of cooperation. I would like to take up this idea:

In this third phase we want to continue to expand existing areas of cooperation and also explore new ones.

1. Winning future markets together

Increasing economic clout brings with it the need for modern infrastructure, clean energy and reliable public safety. Issues such as climate change and biodiversity come to the fore. We are looking towards the sustainable use of raw materials, to developing new environmental technology and cooperating on climate issues.

Brazil has major reserves of raw materials, immense rainforests that are vital for the global climate and also real potential for renewable energies. We have cutting-edge technology with the label “Made in Germany”. We must bring the two together. This could result in significant cooperation projects of benefit to both partners.

2. Learning from one another

If we want to shape a common future we must address the three issues of education, research and innovation. There already exist many academic partnerships with German universities and research institutions. In addition the staff responsible for setting up the German Innovation and Science Forum have recently begun their work in this very same building. This initiative is being promoted by the Federal Foreign Office and I am convinced that the German Innovation and Science Forum will make a particularly significant contribution to German-Brazilian cooperation.

None of these projects is meant to stand alone, rather they all contribute to a broad, overarching political strategy. What we want to achieve are close and broad-based relations with Brazil that extend beyond the purely economic sphere and are sustainable both politically and socially.

3. Assuming global responsibility together

Brazil’s growing economic and political clout makes cooperation possible on a worldwide level that benefits both countries. The shared goal of our efforts must be to give globalization a set of values and rules so that peace and security are safeguarded in the long term.

The global economic and financial crisis has not led to a slowing down or halt in the globalization process. The effects of the economic and financial crisis are, in fact, the expression of an advancing globalization. Events that take place in far-flung corners of the globe directly affect us. The same rule applies to the economy and financial affairs, the environment, climate change, energy and food: we can only achieve sustainable solutions together if we cooperate at a global level. This kind of cooperation between Brazil and Germany should be a cornerstone of our bilateral relations.

We need to work together on defusing conflicts before they escalate, using preventive foreign policy. In order to do this we need to address the roots of these problems. Where are conflicts more likely to arise owing to a scarcity of resources? How can we use our foreign policy and economic tools to prevent these conflicts? Our foreign policy must prevent global problems turning into global crises. Today foreign policy must ensure that globalization develops according to a set of rules and values. Here we see Latin America as a logical choice of partner, because we share the same fundamental values.

In Germany many still underestimate the significance of German-Brazilian relations and the Federal Government’s new Latin American policy. Here in São Paulo we see it being lived out.

There are only a handful of cities in the world that have such a close network of German organizations as here. Alongside your institution and over 800 German companies in the region, São Paulo has particularly strong German schools. Amongst them is the world’s largest German school abroad, the Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro in São Paulo, which I am due to visit. The close cooperation between German businesses and schools has particularly impressed me. Here in São Paulo the Chamber of Commerce and German companies offer vocational training according to the German dual system, in tandem with the Colégio Humboldt. I am pleased that this system, which enjoys such an excellent reputation worldwide, is also being applied here.

Alongside the large group of people of German descent, these institutions, by communicating German language and culture, also play their part in building an even closer network of relations, including beyond the purely economic sphere.

The German Government wants to expand this work, too. Yesterday evening I spoke to President Lula here in São Paulo about our wish to make 2013 the Year of Germany in Brazil. He confirmed me in my conviction to go ahead with the project. I invite you all to take an active part in the planning.

With my visit, Brazil will now feature prominently on the German Government’s foreign-policy agenda, from the beginning right to the end of this legislative period in 2013. This is commensurate with the importance of German-Brazilian relations – so obvious to everyone here – within Federal Government foreign policy.

However, it is not only down to the governments of our two countries to breathe new life into the action plan for the strategic partnership. I am counting on you all. This Chamber of Commerce will, as one of the largest and most important of its kind, continue to play a crucial role. It acts as a linchpin, ensuring harmonious liaison between our economies. You may rest assured that the Federal Government will do everything in its power to assist you.

Thank you for your attention.

“I am deeply concerned about the Israeli Government’s decision. The announcement that new homes are to be constructed sends the wrong signal at the wrong time.

Our stance on the settlement question is as clear as that of the EU and the entire international community. It is set forth in the road map and provides for a freeze on settlement activities.

We hope that the planned indirect peace talks between the parties will commence as soon as possible and support all steps in this direction.”

• Israeli-Palestinian conflict

“I am deeply distressed about the attack on the World Vision office in Pakistan. I am saddened about the death of five people who were working for peace and development in Pakistan – for the benefit of the people there, as well as for our benefit.”

According to the latest reports, five local staff members were killed in the attack in north-west Pakistan.

Günter Nooke also serves on the board of trustees of the German branch of World Vision.

The Translation Prize is being launched under the auspices of the Ernst Reuter Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding. The Ernst Reuter Initiative (ERI) was founded in 2006 following the controversy over the Muhammad cartoons. The Initiative now has a large number of successful projects to its credit in areas ranging from the arts, culture and the media to youth, academia and integration, including a joint master’s programme offered by Humboldt-Universität Berlin and the Middle East University Ankara, for example, or the German-Turkish youth orchestra Jungenc.

• Ernst Reuter Initiative for German-Turkish dialogue