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Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the adoption of the German-Brazilian resolution in New York
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement today (19 December) on the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a German-Brazilian resolution on the protection of privacy as a human right:
I am delighted that our initiative was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly. This shows clearly that our reservations about excessive infringements of privacy are shared worldwide.
This impressive response is an encouragement to us to now pursue this route within the United Nations with all due consequence.
I believe that something has been set in motion in the United States, too. The group of experts established by President Obama has recognised a need for reform and put forward relevant proposals.
I trust that the right and necessary decisions will soon be taken in Washington in order to re-adjust the balance between legitimate security interests and the protection of individual privacy.
Last night, the White House published the expert committee’s report which President Obama had commissioned to review the activities of American intelligence services.