News : New efforts needed in disarmament policy

Germany News: Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle speaks in the German Bundestag

New efforts needed in disarmament policy

January 22, 2010

Speaking in the German Bundestag, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle advocated new efforts in disarmament policy, saying the coming decade needs to be a decade of disarmament. The Foreign Minister called upon Iran to cooperate. Turning to the international Afghanistan Conference, Westerwelle called for a broad political approach.

In his speech during the first reading of the 2010 Budget Act, the Federal Foreign Minister emphasized German efforts in disarmament policy: “Disarmament is the imperative for humanity at this time”, and the Minister sees it as necessary to make the globalized world safer. Westerwelle underscored the need to use the window of opportunity opened by US President Barack Obama with his speech in Prague. On 5 April 2009, Obama sketched out his vision of a world without nuclear weapons.

Minister Westerwelle emphasized the German Government sees nuclear and conventional disarmament going hand in hand. With its Allies, the German Government also wants to talk about how the last nuclear weapons remaining in Germany can be withdrawn, as the Minister explained.

Warning to Iran

Westerwelle warned of the threat that would emanate from Iran being in possession of nuclear weapons. He described a Tehran with nuclear weapons as being “in no way acceptable”.

He believes the time will come when the international community will have to decide how to react to Iran’s refusal to talk. He warned that the German Government will be ready, together with its partners, to extend the sanctions, should Tehran continue not to fulfil its international obligations.

New momentum in the Middle East peace process

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Minister Westerwelle pushed for peace talks to be relaunched. New momentum for the talks are, he believes, urgently needed to get the negotiating process between Israelis and Palestinians off the ground again.

The Minister described Israel’s right to exist as part of Germany’s raison d’être: Israel has the right to security for its citizens within secure borders. As he pointed out, the German Government will put up decisive opposition to anyone challenging this right to exist. The Minister also sees the commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East which includes the right of Palestinians to a viable state as an integral part of German foreign policy.

Broad political approach for Afghanistan Conference

An international conference on Afghanistan will take place in London on 28 January. Westerwelle reaffirmed his call for a broad political approach in London. To his mind, the first priority was to agree on shared goals and a strategy for reconstruction in Afghanistan, and then agree on the best instruments.

Westerwelle warned the Bundestag about a debate on an overhasty withdrawal: “Those who would withdraw now from Afghanistan in a panic, would leave millions of people in the lurch”. As he went on, terrorism must not be granted a new safe haven in Afghanistan. The German mission in Afghanistan helps protect against terrorism but is also a human commitment. Westerwelle underlined, “The international community cannot afford this state to stumble, not to mention fall”.

Value-based foreign policy

The Federal Foreign Minister described German foreign policy as “interest-led and value-based”. He sees no contradiction between the opening of markets on the one hand and the insistence on human rights on the other. “Being true to our values and interests – both aspects are central parts of good German foreign policy.”