The presence of a former chancellor of Germany like Gerhard Schröder may signal a split in the German ruling class in terms of attitudes toward Russia and the US.
There’s still some space for Europe to regain its sovereignty (and sanity) by rejecting a continental foreign policy forged in Washington.
[dropcap]”Again War In Europe? Not In Our Name!”[/dropcap] an open letter of appeal was initiated by Horst Teltschik (CDU), Advisor to then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl at the time German re-unification; Walther Stützle (SPD), former Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defense; and Antje Vollmer (Greens), former Bundestag Vice President. The call, covered in the Dec. 5 issue of Die Zeit, was signed by more than 60 German prominent personalities.
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It comes at a strategic, dramatic moment when Germany’s role in whether there is war or peace is key, as Chancellor Angela Merkel continues to accept and participate in London and Washington’s confrontation course with Russia, demonstrated by her behavior since the APEC Summit in Beijing. Furthermore, some are planning to use Germany’s rotation assignment to head NATO’s Rapid Deployment Force to push it as the “spearhead” for military provocation against Russia around the Ukraine crisis.
Below are the resolution’s beginning, and excerpts of the appeal, as translated by this news service from the original German (emphasis is in the original):
“Nobody wants war. But North America, the European Union and Russia are inevitably driving towards war if they do not finally halt the disastrous spiral of threats and counter-threats. All Europeans, including Russia, jointly hold the responsibility for peace and security. Only those who do not lose sight of this goal, are avoiding fatal actions.
The anti-Russia posture is not terribly popular with people in the arts, who are normally pro-peace and cultural exchanges and integration. Famous actor klaus Maria Brander represents this current.
“In this moment of great danger for the continent, Germany has a special responsibility for the maintenance of peace. Without the will for reconciliation of the people of Russia, without the foresight of Mikhail Gorbachov, without the support of our Western allies, and without the prudent action by the then-Federal government, the division of Europe would not have been overcome. To allow the German unification to evolve peacefully was a great gesture, shaped by the wisdom of the victorious powers. It was a decision of historic proportions.
Dr. Lothar de Mazière, another prominent German figure and signatory.
“Out of this overcoming of the division of Europe, a permanent peace and security from Vancouver to Vladivostok should have developed, as it had been agreed upon by all the 35 heads of state and government of the OSCE member states in November 1990, in the ‘Charter of Paris for a New Europe.’ … This goal of the postwar policy is not redeemed to this day. People in Europe have to live in fear again.
The somewhat indecisive Angela Merkel has played a confusing role in the drive to isolate and disempower Russia, but a sector of Germany’s ruling class objects to a sudden decoupling or open hostilities. Merkel’s own anti-Russian prejudices complicate the equation.
“We, the undersigned, appeal to the Federal Government of Germanyto assume their responsibility for peace in Europe. We need a new policy of détente in Europe. This is only possible on the basis of equal security for all and mutually respected partners. The German government is not pursuing a go-it-alone policy, as long as it continues to call, within the ensuing stalemate, for calm and dialogue with Russia. The need for the Russians to have security is as legitimate, as it is for the Germans, for the Poles, for those in the Baltic states, and for the Ukrainians.
“We must also not push Russia out of Europe. … Since the Congress of Vienna in 1814 Russia has been a recognized global player in Europe. All who have tried to change that have failed violently, the last being the megalomaniac Germany of Hitler, which in 1941 with murderous intent set out to subjugate Russia.
“We call upon the members of the German Bundestag, delegated by the people as political representatives to deal appropriately with the seriousness of the situation. …Who is erecting a bogeyman, putting the blame on only one side, and exacerbating tensions when the signals should be for de-escalation. …
“We appeal to the media, and their obligation to comply with unprejudiced reporting more convincing than recently. Editorialists and leading commentators demonize whole nations, without taking into their history into account. Any journalist experienced in foreign affairs would understand the fear of the Russians, since 2008 when members of NATO asked Georgia and Ukraine to join the Alliance. It is not about Putin. Heads of state come and go. What is at stake is Europe. …
“On October 3, 1990, the Day of German Reunification, the Federal President Richard von Weizäcker said: ‘The Cold War has been overcome, and freedom and democracy will soon be in place in all countries. …This is a challenge. We can achieve it, but we can also fail. We are facing the clear alternative to unite Europe or fall back again into painful historical examples of nationalist conflicts in Europe.’
“Until the Ukraine conflict, we here in Europe thought we were on the right track. Today, a quarter of a century later, Richard von Weizäcker’s warning is more apropos than ever.” In addition to the initiators, others among the 60-odd signers included:
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Dr. Eckhard Cordes, Chairman of Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations for German Industry and Business (Ost-Ausschuss)
Eberhard Diepgen (CDU), former Mayor of Berlin, 1989, and later elected as the first Mayor of re-unified Berlin, December 1990.
Dr. Klaus von Dohnanyi, former German Science Minister and Mayor of Hamburg 1981-88. (His father was a part of the resistance against Hitler and involved in a 1943 assassination attempt against Hitler; he was later arrested and interned in Sachsenhausen, where he was executed in April 1945.)
Dr. Roman Herzog, CDU, former German President, 1994-99.
Dr. Lothar de Mazière, served as the only elected Prime Minister of East Germany in 1990, after the Fall of the Berlin Wall and before the reunification that year.
Prof. Klaus Mangold, a leader in the small and medium industrial firms (Mittelstand) in Baden-Württemberg. In November, in defiance of Merkel and the sanctions policy, arranged for Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukaev to meet with the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany, 1998-2005.
The undersigned call for members of the German Bundestag to realize how serious the situation is and to watch closely the fulfillment of its peacekeeping obligation by the federal government. A civil war started by the Kiev government against the people of Novorossiya has continued in Ukraine since April. The UN reports that the conflict has resulted in 4,300 killed and 10,000 injured civilians.
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