Major crises and conflicts, including the Ukraine crisis, have provided an international stage where Germany could practice its new policy. The country has showed the world that it has an increasingly clear understanding of what concrete path it wants to take towards greater involvement in international affairs.
GROWING LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES
"Is Germany ready to lead? My answer is: Yes. The key question is: What kind of leadership are we talking about today?" said German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Friday in her address at the opening of the 51st Munich Security Conference.
According to von der Leyen, Germany would not think of leadership as "putting itself in charge and telling others what to do."
Instead, her country would seek a "leadership from the center" which means to enable its partners with less resources to "make their vital contributions as equal partners" and to "assume responsibility for security in their own regions."
The minister cited as examples Germany's military integration and cooperation with its neighbors, as well as the country's military training programs in Mali, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia and Iraq.
Leadership also means the unconditional willingness to analyze and make decisions in a common approach and to combine Germany's willingness and capacity to act, as well as commitment to address the most urgent questions concerning future security policy, said von der Leyen, citing Germany's participation in international efforts on resolving the Ukraine crisis as an example.
Details about Germany's greater international roll were also given by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"The key question is not whether we should become involved, but 'where' and 'how'," Steinmeier said Sunday while attending a panel discussion with his U.S. and French counterparts.
"It should be farsighted and persistent; proactive, but without over-estimation of our possibilities, and always embedded at the European and international level," he further explained.
According to the minister, Germany would make contribution to strengthening multilateral institutions within the framework of the European Union and the transatlantic partnership; It would also continue to expand its involvement and instruments for managing crises and conflicts.
STANCE ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT
The prolonged crisis in Ukraine is an example.
Over the last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is known to have discussed the issue many times with world leaders, emerging more and more as a pivotal leader in helping settle the conflict.
Steinmeier has also paid several visits to Ukraine for meetings with Ukrainian leaders, trying to bring together representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to seek solutions to the crisis through talks and negotiations.
Experts said Germany has been playing a key role in mediating the Ukraine crisis and pushing steps forward in reaching agreements between the conflict parties.
As violence escalates in eastern Ukraine in recent days, Germany has intensified its efforts to help ease the crisis, with Merkel, together with French President Francois Hollande, travelling to Kiev and then Moscow to present a new initiative for peace in Ukraine, before clarifying its stance over the issue in front of an audience at the Munich conference who was eagerly waiting for an answer from Germany.
At the conference it showed that, in particular in the face of divisions among Western allies over the issue of weapon deliveries to Ukraine, Germany has its own understanding and stance over crisis management and the issue of European security.
Slamming Russia for alleged direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict, which Moscow has denied repeatedly, Washington is reportedly considering offering Ukraine lethal weapons to boost its fight against militants in the eastern part of the country.
The plan, however, was slapped by Germany.
"I am firmly convinced that this conflict can not be solved by military means ... the progress that Ukraine needs can not be achieved by more weapons," Merkel told the Munich conference on Saturday, adding that there were already a lot of weapons in Ukraine and solutions should be concentrated on diplomatic dimensions.
Merkel's stance was criticized by some U.S. politicians. U.S. Republican Senator John McCain accused Merkel of indifference towards the Ukrainian people suffering in the crisis by refusing to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Elaborating Germany's policy at Sunday's discussions, Steinmeier reiterated his country's opposition to arming Kiev.
"Some people regard weapons supplies to Ukraine as a feasible and even necessary way. I think that is not only highly risky, but also counterproductive," he said. "We are persistent, despite some disappointment."
Steinmeier also presented his idea of the future development of European security, saying people should also consider what steps to take to integrate Russia again into European security architecture after finding a solution to the Ukraine crisis.
"Germany has a special responsibility for European security. That means we also need to think beyond the current conflict in Ukraine," the minister noted.
china.org.cn - Xinhua
9/2/15
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