http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:12:46 +0000 FeedCreator 1.7.6(BH) http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1227105166.html Against the background of the current financial crisis and the G20 summit in Washington on the past weekend, Katharina Gnath discusses the international economic policy of president Nicolas Sarkozy. Gnath gives account of the renewed French suggestions for a common European economic government and the European proposals under the French EU presidency that have made decisive inroads into the G20’s final communiqué: more transparency and regulation of all financial actors, as well as more voice of international financial institutions such as the IMF. Andreas Alvarez Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:40:56 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1226413319.html In two consecutive interviews with the TV channel N24, Simon Koschut analyzes the first encounter between President-elect Barack Obama and his soon to become predecessor George W. Bush. Koschut points to conflicts between the Democrat and the Republican, for example regarding the passing of controversial executive orders on stem cell research by the Bush Administration as well as Obama's announcement to provide federal assistance to the auto industry. These conflicts could become a burden on crisis management in the financial crisis during the transition period until Obama's inauguration in January. At the same time, it gives Obama an opportunity to break with the policies of the Bush Aministration, and introduce symbolic political change even before his inauguration. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:29:47 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1226581113.html Katharina Gnath explained in an interview with nordwest radio that the window of opportunity to cooperate in financial affairs is much greater than in the past years. Nevertheless, one should not automatically assume that Europe and the new US administration will agree on all accounts. Even under President elect Obama, the US are sceptical towards a common global financial institution as proposed by EU president Sarkozy. Obama is starting his term under very difficult economic conditions: apart from the crises in the property and financial sector and the inheritance of huge debts, unemployment has soared to a 14-year high. This could even worsen with the current car manufacturers' problems. Obama has to act swiftly and pragmatically in order to realize his gained trust. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:06:36 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1226048463.html About the election results in the United States and the future transatlantic relations talked Eberhard Sandschneider, director of the research institute of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Josef Braml, U.S.-expert of the DGAP and Jan Techau, DGAP-expert on the EU in the context of an expert discussion. According to Sandschneider, the high expectations of Americans and Europeans to Barack Obama are unrealistic. The future president of the United States has to face a lot of problems, which could not be solved within short time by one person alone. “There is hard work waiting for all of us.” Sandschneider said. Andreas Alvarez Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:08:50 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1226059912.html Two DGAP reserachers commented on the election on the website of the Atlantic Initiative. During the election party that the ZDF, the DGAP and the US embassy held in the Berlin Hweadquarter of the German Telekom, John Hulsman remninded how crucial it is for transatlantic cooperation that the Europeans take up more international responsibility. The new President would demand much more of the Europeans. Hulsman appeared pessimistic. In Iran, european sanctions seem unlikely, not enough is done in Afghanistan,, and even in climate policy, the Europeans must get their act together. Henning Riecke was hopeful, that the new President would take on issues important to the Europeans. However, problems will persist: Many of the transatlantic differences are structureal. Security priorities of the USA stem from its role as superpower that wants to keep its position, and from the traumatic experience of 9/11. Andreas Alvarez Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:19:10 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1225379007.html In an interview with the Hessian Radio Broadcast HR3 Simon Koschut explained why the outcome of the US elections is still unclear despite Barack Obama's positive poll ratings. Many voters in the United States are simply not ready for an Afro-American president but will not admit so to pollsters. Koschut views the risk of a racist attack on Obama as low. An assassination would produce a political earthquake in the US. Andreas Alvarez Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:11:50 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1224064360.html In an interview with the weekly newspaper ‘Freitag 41’, the head of the Russia/Eurasia programme of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Alexander Rahr, explains why the ‘Petersburg Dialogue’ – the German-Russian platform for communication between the countries’ respective civil societies – has not only grown more complex since its inauguration but also more significant. He makes special reference to the most recent events in the South Caucasus and the subsequent cooling down of German-Russian relations, emphasising that it is especially in times of mutual misunderstandings that this forum becomes truly invaluable. Andreas Alvarez Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:58:36 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1224489744.html In an interview with the TV channel Phoenix, Dr. Henning Riecke commented on the agenda topics currently discussed by NATO’s defence ministers in Budapest. The most contentious issue, Riecke said, is a direct engagement of NATO’s Isaf mission in the fight against Afghanistan’s flourishing drug industry. He explained that those in favour of a military counter-narcotic role seek to cut off the Taliban from their immense profits made by drug-trafficking. Germany and others, however, argue that hostility among local Afghans towards Isaf would increase, since poppy cultivation often is their only income source. Riecke pointed out that by an overcautious attitude toward counter-insurgency, Germany risks to loose influence within the alliance. In regard to Georgia, Riecke thinks that although the alliance will keep up the dialogue, the South-Ossetia War has decreased the probability of a consensus within NATO regarding the country’s accession within a foreseeable future. Andreas Alvarez Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:09:09 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1225707112.html The director of the research institute of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Prof. Eberhard Sandschneider, gives a negative summary of the term of office of US-President George W. Bush. Especially in the area of human rights, the Bush Government has demanded high standards but did not accomplish them by themselves. The image of the United States and the West had greatly suffered from the war against terrorism and the prisons of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. After eight years of the Bush-Government, the United States now has the biggest budget deficit in the history of the country. According to Sandschneider, Bush leaves a difficult inheritance to his successor. Andreas Alvarez Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:20:43 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222770110.html In his article for the German political journal Berliner Republic, Jan Techau urges Europe and the west to embrace a dual strategy in its dealings with Russia. This strategy is to target the two sources of Russian foreign policy: its deep-rooted inferiority complex which repeatedly leads to aggressive outbursts, and Europe’s energy dependency which functions as an enabler for Russia’s robust policies. Andreas Alvarez Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:27:18 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1223450931.html In an interview with ZDF-TV, Germany's national public television broadcaster, the director of the Russia/Eurasia Programme Alexander Rahr discussed the current developments within Russia’s internal and foreign policy, notably against the background of the recent developments in the South Caucasus. He made particular reference to Germany’s special role – notably through the German-Russian forum ‘Petersburg Dialogue’ – in furthering the integration of Russia with Europe and the international community. Andreas Alvarez Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:34:39 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222694380.html What do the United States stand for today, what happened to the American dream, and what are the county’s major problems in the run-up to the congressional and presidential elections in November? An interview with DGAP ’s political scientist and US expert Josef Braml. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:25:04 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222694245.html In an interview for Germany's online paper Netzeitung, Jan Techau anlayzed the outcome of the national elections in Austria. "Austria could potentially join the group of hesitant and unpredictable EU member states. Eurosceptic parties have won a combined 60 per cent share of the vote". Even though Europe as an issue did not play a decisive role for how voters cast their ballots, this strong anti-European sentiment would have to be taken into consideration by any future Austrian government. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:23:02 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222694056.html As a guest of Deutsche Welle’s political talkshow „Zwischen Nord und Süd“, on September 24th, Jan Techau commented on the Euro-Russian relationship after the crisis in the Caucasus. Techau criticized the widely popular pro-Russian interpretation of the events in Georgia while decidedly rejecting a policy of isolating Russia internationally. “Russian policy is driven by a deep-rooted inferiority complex vis-à-vis the West. It is our task to help Russia overcome its fear, otherwise it will never be a constructive partner in Europe and World Affairs.” The program is a co-production of Deutsche Welle TV and Algerian Television. It was recorded in Algier. Andreas Alvarez Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:19:55 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222078196.html Eberhard Sandscheider, Director of the research institute of the DGAP and China expert, commented in an interview with Deutschland Radio Kultur on the recent milk scandal in China und stated that the undeveloped consumer projection is the outcome of the rapid economic growth. Andreas Alvarez Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:15:43 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222078002.html Barack Obama may politically benefit from the financial crisis in the United States. American voters have more confidence in Obama than in John McCain to cope with economic and financial problems, says DGAP’s US-expert Josef Braml. Democrats are deemed more competent in dealing with economic issues. With his successful economic policies and balanced budgets, George W. Bush’s predecessor Bill Clinton disproved the up to then prevailing prejudice, according to which Democrats were supposed to have difficulties in dealing with economic issues. By contrast, the incumbent president Bush took over the reigns from Clinton when the U.S. economy was prospering, and since then, he has managed to run it down to one of its historically most problematic levels. Andreas Alvarez Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:12:25 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1221645462.html In an interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk, Dr. Arend Oetker, president of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), commented on the current situation in the Caucasian region. „I am confident that the situation in the Caucasus is under control now“, Oetker said. According to Oetker, the EU observer's mission in the region is a weak but important instrument for the protection of peace. In order to improve the future relations with Russia, the West must support the internal reform process of the country. This could be realized by intensifying the economic relations with Moscow. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:02:58 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1222078085.html In an interview with ARD-Digital on September 12th 2008, Professor Sandschneider, Director of the research institute of the DGAP and Head of Program of USA/Transatlantic Relations, commented on the American election campaign and the nomination of Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin as running mate of the Republicans. According to Sandschneider the sensation around the person Palin demonstrates the highly differentiated perception of politics between the east and west coast as well as the Midwest of the USA. Andreas Alvarez Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:13:48 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1220956648.html In an article of Stern.de Jan Techau, head of the Alfred von Oppenheim-Center for European Studies at the German Council on Foreign Affairs (DGAP), commented on the visit of the French President and President of the EU Council Nicolas Sarkozy in Russia. Techau expects no “clear words” from Sarkozy to the Russian Government. According to Techau, the EU is basically helpless towards Moscow because it depends from the Russian energy deliveries. On the other hand, the Russian side also depends from the economic relations with the EU, hence, a long-term stop of delivery is not to be expected. Andreas Alvarez Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:46:15 +0000 http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1220613638.html In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Eberhard Sandschneider, Director of the Research Institute of the German Council on Foreign Affairs and head of the USA/Transatlantic Relations -Program, spoke about the nomination of Sarah Palin for vice candidate of the Republican Party. John McCains decision for Palin were unexpected for many observers. Palin, the former governor of Alaska, is totally inexperienced regarding foreign affairs, which could also result in problems to Europe, Sandschneider said . The DGAP-Expert doesn’t regard the public interest for Palin´s private life aas unusual, because American election campaigns are orchestrated like “Holywood-Events”. Andreas Alvarez Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:26:29 +0000