'Exceptional ties'
Speaking after a busy week involving meetings with France, the UK and a speech before the UN General Assembly in New York, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder spoke to Ibrahim Nafie about Europe, Iraq and the Middle East shortly before he travelled to Egypt on Saturday. The following are excerpts of the interview given in Berlin and published in Al-Ahram on Saturday
You have said that the German government supports the foundation of the German University in Cairo, GUC. How significant is this project in relation to Germany's foreign policy and Egyptian-German relations?
I would like to mention that science and scientific research play an important role in bolstering understanding between countries, and go a long way towards removing barriers, traversing borders and consolidating mutual confidence.
As for the GUC, it would boost scientific cooperation and place academic exchange between the two countries on a higher and more significant level. This would benefit both of our countries. Egypt will reap many benefits from the opportunity its young people will have to study engineering and bio-technology, as these fields are important for modernisation and development.
As for Germany, its young scientists will undoubtedly have the chance to broaden their experience. Networks of cooperation and personal bonds will develop between the two sides, and this will be good for everyone.
Germany and the EU are interested in broadening the scope of cooperation with Egypt, and Egypt is similarly motivated. How can this be achieved on the level of bilateral relations as well as EU level?
Egypt and Germany have old and exceptional ties ... and these relations are strong and multi-faceted. [...] Germany was one of the first EU countries to sign the partnership agreement between Egypt and the EU. As soon as this agreement takes effect, Germany will make every effort to implement it.
Important issues are being dealt with here, such as allowing Egyptian goods better access to the European market, and increasing cooperation in matters relating to security. Since our aim is to establish a free-trade zone between Europe and the Mediterranean countries by 2010, it is important to consolidate economic relations between Egypt and Germany, and between the EU and the Mediterranean countries as soon as possible.
You have just returned from the UN General Assembly session, where you held talks with US President George W Bush. What is the outcome of these meetings and of the debate over the future of Iraq?
On the subject of Iraq, it has become clear that the reconstruction of the state is something that should be left to the Iraqi people alone. The role of the international community -- embodied by the UN -- is to help the Iraqi people as much as possible. This is why it is important for the Iraqi state to restore its sovereignty at the earliest possible opportunity, and for sovereignty to be real. For this to happen, a realistic plan has to be drawn up, with clear points which are understood by all. One of the main points here should be the drawing up of a new constitution and the holding of free and democratic elections under UN supervision.
I am fully convinced that placing the reconstruction of Iraq under UN supervision would encourage more countries to participate. This is why there should be an international fund, supervised by the UN and the World Bank, for the reconstruction of Iraq. This would be another important step towards finding sources of finance.
During my upcoming tour of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, I intend calling for international cooperation for the rebuilding of Iraq. I think the Arab neighbours could play a major role in this.
And what was the outcome of your talks with the US president?
I know that journalists want big headlines. But the important thing here is that Germany and the United States cooperate closely in many fields and in a spirit of trust, be this the fight against terrorism or the establishment of stability in Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Balkans.
Yes, we disagreed with the United States over the way to disarm Iraq, but now we have to move on. The two countries share a mutual desire to achieve stability and security on Iraqi soil. As I said at the UN session, Germany is making substantial contributions towards humanitarian assistance. We are also willing to participate in the training of the Iraqi police and army force. But we have no plans for deploying military forces to Iraq.
At any rate, all former experiences indicate that more troops does not necessarily mean increased security.
We know that the roadmap was conceived in Germany and christened in Europe. Is it still possible to rally enough international support to revive Israeli and Palestinian commitment to that map?
In my opinion, there is no other alternative to the international peace plan known as the 'roadmap'. The aim is [for the roadmap] to lead to two states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side by side within safe and recognised borders. This means securing Israel's right to exist and the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
The establishment of lasting peace in the Middle East will remain our goal, and President Mubarak has a major role to play in this regard. We urge the two sides of the conflict to honour their commitments to the roadmap. We must not allow setbacks to discourage us.
The peace efforts have repeatedly collapsed because of cycles of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Is it not time to establish an effective monitoring mechanism on the ground?
Any international measures for safeguarding the peace process will depend on the presence of a true and serious desire for peace on both sides. [The Palestinians and Israelis] should act with moderation, remain committed to the spirit and letter of the roadmap and resume the required confidence-building process.
Once this is done, we can then look at the measures which the international community is required to take.
Generally speaking, we have no shortage of ideas or vision, but need to see the peace efforts continued and consolidated by both sides.
Why is Barcelona's Euro- Mediterranean process facing difficulties, and what should the EU do to make this process work out? Does the Barcelona process need to be updated to accommodate prospective new members such as Cyprus and Malta, as well as your support in principle of Turkey joining the EU -- considering that these three countries, along with Arab states and Israel, were involved in the Barcelona process?
Despite some criticism, the Barcelona process is still alive and has proved successful, as it is a unique forum for serious dialogue on all common issues. We need to have genuine partnership between neighbours who, however different their cultures, need each other.
Our goal is to create a free-trade zone between the EU and the countries to the south and east of the Mediterranean by 2010. To achieve this, we rely on the growing cooperation among the countries of the Mediterranean and hope that the organisation we agreed to create -- which will promote dialogue between different cultures -- will begin its work soon.
Dialogue is indispensable for clearing up misunderstandings, increasing understanding and eliminating prejudice.
You made an early announcement to the effect that you will contest the next general elections in 2006. The opposition accused you of using this as a way of diverting attention from economic problems. Why did you make an announcement which is so unusual in German politics?
Foreign Minister Fischer had announced that he intends running for office again in the 2006 elections. I was happy about this decision because I enjoy working with him. I also wanted German citizens to know that no one is jumping ship.
We [Fisher and I] started a difficult process of reform in Germany, and we have to continue it together.
Several European countries are thinking seriously of introducing Islamic religion classes in their schools. Would Germany introduce an initiative of this type on the federal level, or would this matter be left for the individual states to decide?
In Germany, the matter of religious education and moral values in schools comes under the mandate of the individual states. But there is agreement between the federal government and the individual states that there is a need to teach the Islamic religion, which would act as a basis for mature religious dialogue in Germany.
There is also a consensus that these classes would be provided in each state according to individual circumstances.
There are, however, three conditions that have to be met: Islamic religion classes will be taught in German, the instruction will take place under state supervision and Muslims will help design the curricula. Some projects already exist at regional level, and there are also successful experimental modules which can be built upon and improved.
