http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/ 2008-08-28T08:21:29+00:00 text/html 2008-08-26T13:00:07+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219840872.html In an interview with German news TV N24 Stefan Meister spoke about the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the Russian President Medvedev. Meister pointed out, that the dynamic inside of Russia did not allow a different decision. He warned that at the moment as well in Russia as in the US the hardliner dominate the debate between Russia and the West. Therefore the EU should play a more crucial role to negotiate with Russia and to avoid an escalation of the conflict. text/html 2008-08-25T14:10:36+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219759560.html In an interview with ZDF Alexander Rahr commented on the latest intensification of the Georgian Crisis. Rahr is convinced that president Medvedev will accept the motion of the Russian parliament to support the independence bid of the two Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. For Rahr a reunification of the separatist republics with Georgia is exluded. Rahr stands up f or an active engagement of the West in the discussion on Georgia’s future. Russia shouldn’t be allowed to determine the situation on her own. Rahr considers the form of a Georgian confederation to be a conceivable solution of the conflict. text/html 2008-08-25T13:10:11+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219669548.html In an interview with Reuters TV, Josef Braml explained that choosing Senator Jospeh Biden as his running mate could also imply unintended negative consequences for the Democratic contender Obama. Biden'’s seasoned foreign policy experience once more highlights Obama'’s weakness in this important policy area and contradicts his mantra of“ "change". text/html 2008-08-23T14:15:29+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219759866.html In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Dr. Henning Riecke commented on the future role of Western countries in Georgia. According to Riecke, it is necessary to await further potential actions by Russia regarding Georgia. International peacekeeping forces are necessary: A chance for the European Union to support the stabilization of the country by a European peacekeeping force. Generally, the situation calls for a change in the Western policy towards Russia and the European Union has to consider confidence- building measures. text/html 2008-08-19T14:46:20+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219329710.html In an interview with ARD eins extra Dr. Henning Riecke commented on the prospects of the NATO ministerial meeting. According to Riecke, the NATO will express solidarity with Georgia. Riecke states that the NATO member countries have to rethink their relationship with Russia. There will be transatlantic conflicts, but no actual measures. Georgia will have even more difficulties in becoming a member of NATO. text/html 2008-08-18T13:45:25+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1219671698.html In a comment for Radio Free Europa / Radio Liberty, Jan Techau put emphasis on the European aspects in the Georgia crisis. For him, the old division between “old” and “new” Europe is less relevant than the fact that Europe as a whole lacks the means to influence Russian behaviour. Europe is united in powerless – and so are the United States. Neither the half-hearted softness of the EU nor aggressive American neo-conservatism offer a way out of the dilemma. It is now the time to assess the common interests (which have become more visible through the war) and devise a long-term strategy to pursue them. text/html 2008-08-13T07:39:45+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1218785756.html Dr. Henning Riecke commented on challenges for the EU Foreign Policy concerning the war in Georgia. According to Riecke, the European Union has to make efforts to play a role in peacekeeping, also because of the difficulties regarding the post-war regulations. After the war, Georgia will have even more difficulties in becoming a member of NATO. The Western countries have to define their interests in the region and have to act accordingly. The European Union should continued in a self-assertive way its neighborhood policy of stabilization and reform. text/html 2008-08-12T07:35:45+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1218785542.html Dr. Henning Riecke discussed during the program "World have your say"/BBC World with experts and listeners about the western reactions on the war in Georgia. Riecke argued for a balanced interaction with Russia. According to Riecke, Georgia is not completely innocent regarding the current conflict. Western and European policies must not become a hostage of the Georgian government. At the same time, the Russian invasion, having no legitimacy under international law, calls for a change in the Western policy towards Russia. One must not forget: The economic dependency between Russia and Europe is mutual. Another participant has been the American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein from Yale University. text/html 2008-08-08T10:55:23+00:00 Verena Schrader http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1218451872.html In an interview with stern.de as well as with other media, Alexander Rahr, expert on Russia and Eurasia of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) commented the escalation of the military conflict in Georgia. According to Rahr, by invading the province of South Ossetia, the government of Georgia intends to become member of NATO. In order to enter the military alliance, Georgian president Saakashvili needs the support of US-president George Bush whose term of office will end in November. As a result, Georgia is trying to solve the conflict with the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as quickly as possible by force. The reason is that NATO only accepts member states which do not have problems with sepearatist regions. Further on, the reason for Russia to enter the conflict is to keep the South Caucasion region as its national zone of influence. The region serves a a transit country in order to transport mineral oil and national gas from the Caspian Sea to the west. Thus, ongoing rumors between the US and western countries on one side and Russia on the other side have existed there for more than 20 years. Despite its current efforts, Rahr does not think that EU has much influcende in this conflict. Rahr would rather recommend that president Saakashvili takes diplomatic initiatives in order to prevent the outbreak of a long war. text/html 2008-07-25T12:43:34+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1217248655.html Alexander Skiba commented on Frank-Walter Steinmeier's four day surprise trip to Afghanistan in an interview with DW Radio. Skiba highlighted four reasons for this trip: 1. It sends a message to the United States and other NATO allies that Germany has not written off Afghanistan. 2. It helps Steinmeier, who will most likely be facing Angela Merkel during the next general election as candidate for chancellor to gain status. 3. The trip also sends a signal to his own party, the SPD, which is skeptical at best about Germany's engagement at the Hindu Kush that Afghanistan is a good and worthwhile cause and needs political support. 4. The trip also shores up support in the Bundestag and the general public just before the extension of the Bundeswehr's mandate will be debated in the fall. The foreign minister will very likely try to show the "full picture" of German engagement in Afghanistan, of which the military is just one component. text/html 2008-07-21T13:06:46+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1216645305.html In an interview with Saarlandwelle, Katharina Gnath assesses the chances of success for this week's "Mini Ministerial" at the WTO in Geneva where 30 to 40 trade ministers will convene to revitalise the stagnating Doha negotiations. The prospects for a deal are bleak: The EU, the US and big emerging countries such as India or Brazil continue to fundamentally disagree on questions of agricultural subsidies and market access for industrial goods. text/html 2008-07-18T13:05:08+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1216645214.html Josef Braml, expert on the United States at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin, warns of too much Obama euphoria. “Many expect the arrival of the Messiah, who is going to lead America back to the path of virtue. I’m afraid, they may expect too much.” If elected, Obama’s main focus will be to solve the domestic economic problems. “He needs a lot of money for this”, says Braml. Consequently, Obama’s foreign policy would pass the costs for the deployment of foreign troops on to allies. Thus, Obama would attempt to turn Bush’s Iraq war “coalition of the willing” into a “club of members willing to pay.” text/html 2008-07-15T15:29:18+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1216308322.html Should Germany continue to seek a permanent seat in the UN Security Council? Yes, said Dr. Henning Riecke in the "Tagesthema" of the Deutschen Welle TV, on the occasion of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's visit to Berlin. The expansion of the Security Council is part of a reform of the UN as a whole, clearly in Germany's interest. German foreign policy can well create influence in multilateral institutions. To be sure, the outlook for this is still bleak: Italy is working against the German accession, permanent member China against that of Japan, plus there is no African candidate yet. Germany is right to keep the topic on the agenda and to make compromise proposals, but should underline its claim by taking over responsibility in stabilizing international order. text/html 2008-07-11T11:28:42+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1215775484.html In an interview with Deutsche Welle Online, Jan Techau analyzed the upcoming founding of the new Union for the Mediterranean by the EU. Techau expressed his scepticism about the endeavour, pointing to fact that the new body’s predecessor, the EU’s Barcelona process, had failed mostly due to the reluctance of Mediterranean countries to embrace liberal economic and political reforms. Principally, however, the new approach seems to be an improvement as it replaces hard-to-implement macro-projects with smaller, more practical, and thus more feasible plans. text/html 2008-07-08T10:16:18+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1215511973.html Katharina Gnath told the Russian News Agency Rosbalt that this year's summit agenda is unusually broad: Beyond traditional topics of international economics and finance, the heads of states and governments of the leading industrialised countries discuss a broad range of issues, including energy security in the face of high commodity prices, climate change and the current food crisis. text/html 2008-07-08T08:34:50+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1215513084.html What experiences do the Germans have with the deployment of US forces on their territory? Dr. Henning Riecke commented on this question in the public network's news magazine of the Czech Republic, where a contract on a US radar installation will be signed these days. Riecke saw the US deployment in Germany as an expression of jointness in security policy in the Northatlantic Alliance. The US forces are also a an important factor for the regional economy, although the Federal Gortvenmnent has to carry some costs for maintenance and damage management. The announced withdrawal of US-troops will go ahaead slower and on a smaller scale, but will lead to a concentration on fewer US bases. Questions regarding the safety and the future of US nuclear weapons in Germany, says Riecke, should be debated in the NATO framework. text/html 2008-07-05T12:19:19+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1215432931.html Katharina Gnath told Xinhua News Agency that she expected the G8 to continue closer dialogue with developing nations. She hoped that the Japanese presidency would carry on and support the so-called Heiligendamm Process with Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, which was initiated at last year's summit in Germany. text/html 2008-07-04T12:52:34+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1215175732.html In an interview with the Russian newswire Rosbalt, Jan Techau addressed issues concerning the EU’s future after the Irish No-vote on the Lisbon Treaty. text/html 2008-07-01T16:37:13+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1214930031.html How to manoeuvre Europe out of its reform quagmire – this was the central issue in Jan Techau’s live interview with Deutschlandradio’s news magazine “Ortszeit”. Techau explained that while progress in the field of institutional reform has been scarce over the last few years, Europe remained operational and fully functional. He criticized the exaggerated expectations attached to the Lisbon Treaty: “this treaty is not the great EU cure-for-all”. With respect to the proposed model of a multi-speed Europe, Techau said that this could be a viable model for a small number of clearly defined grand projects, such as the Euro or Schengen. As a general model for European integration, however, this idea would prove unfit. “Instead, it would be wiser to scrutinize very carefully what policy fields warrant more integration and what fields could possibly do with less Europe.” text/html 2008-07-01T12:15:20+00:00 Andreas Alvarez http://en.dgap.org/dgap/press/inthenews/view/1214914318.html In an interview with Deutsche Welle Online, Jan Techau analysed motives and goals of the recent foreign travels by US presidential candidates Barack Obama (Europe and the Middle East) and John McCain (Columbia).