speech Steinmeier at the meeting of the bilateral steering committee of the Petersburg Dialogue, 3 June 2008
shaping the global challenges together - Perspectives of German-Russian Modernization Partnership "
- The spoken word! -
Dear Mr. Mayor, dear Mikhail Gorbachev, very Dear Lothar de Maizière, Ladies and Gentlemen,
in his Berlin speech, the new Russian President Medvedev few weeks ago, based on John Le Carré coined a remarkable phrase. Russia, he said, had "returned from the cold". His country was ready to shape global politics and business design.
few days ago, at the summit of Russia and the European Union, Dmitry Medvedev has backed this announcement specifically. My confidence is rising that the time for substantial refinement and deepening of EU-Russian, but especially the German-Russian relations, and finally matures. This is a great opportunity. We must not lose it under any circumstances.
And so it is good and important that we are discussing together how the Russians and the German can take advantage of this opportunity quickly and decisively. I am also very pleased that our meeting today takes place in Passau. This is an opportunity to congratulate the new mayor of this city. Dear Jürgen Depper, my sincere congratulations and good luck in working for the people of this city, the people with whom I want to thank you for the beautiful frame that sets this conference Passau.
One of the hallmarks of the Petersburg Dialogue, that his activities outside of the capitals to take place - away from government offices and governments. Because that's what the St. Petersburg Dialogue: the dialogue between our civil societies, to build bridges between people, for the open, trusting and even critical dialogue between Germans and Russians far beyond the political talk channels. In this capacity, the Petersburg Dialogue is no longer in the German-Russian relations is indispensable. He is preparing to speak to the humus, sprout from the over and hopefully even more new plants of the German-Russian cooperation.
governments alone can not a long term relationship between living Countries and states receive. First, the exchange and the integration of civil society is really close and fruitful relations. There are the musicians, painters and writers who inspire mutually, the entrepreneur, working together for mutual advantage, the scientists who learn from each other and jointly explore unknown territory, and the journalists to discover the curious and open society of the other country and describe.
why I am aware in May at my last visit to Russia also moved into the regions. In Yekaterinburg, the Urals, an industrial city with 1.5 million inhabitants, where many German companies and scientists are active, I said: We have learned that Russia is not on the ring end of Moscow. There, as in St. Petersburg, I have tried the links between human rights activists, to promote religious and other civil society groups in both countries - in the spirit of the Petersburg Dialogue, this supremacy since its establishment seven years ago.
In these seven years has grown in the German-Russian relations in many areas, something that is in general and particularly for the foreign policy of the most important asset: mutual understanding and trust. This is thanks not least to the work of the bilateral steering committee, the tireless efforts of people like Lothar de Maizière, Manfred Stolpe and Mikhail Gorbachev. I would like to express not only you but all committed partners in the Steering Committee on this occasion to thank!
We all know that understanding and trust grow only slowly. Are necessary for time, patience and constant care. Twenty years have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall now passed since the end of the cold war between East and West. Some walls - I mean the walls in their minds - but not fallen as fast. Here and there they still have stock. The paradigm of the Cold War and its ideological clichés haunt us as long shadows of the past.
And that's why I promote the fact that we understand each other: we have entered a new era after the Cold War, an era of growing interdependence. For the first time in human history, we will only be able to solve important problems together - from climate change to energy security. So I put on a policy for more mutual understanding, cooperation and dialogue. In this way we will see that we have many more interests in common than some may think!
We are open and curious about progress in this direction! Then we have the chance to misunderstandings and false perceptions to recognize and overcome. I will in this context the open letter from Mikhail Gorbachev remember that invoked in this March, the German media to review their view of Russia occasionally somewhat self-critical. Not every report, its decision is marked by an unbiased towards one another. Consider these comments by Mikhail Gorbachev, who passionately strives to promote dialogue and cooperation, seriously!
But I will also say: When building mutual trust between Germans and Russians we have come far, and this is the policy of a downfield pass.
The chances for a new relationship between the U.S., EU and Russia are so good, even if we consider the differences that exist, no need to deny. But the common interests are far greater than the differences.
I mean: the growing networking and integration, new global challenges and risks, which must provide the U.S., EU and Russia together - these are starting points for a new common agenda.
President Medvedev has shown the end of May in his speech in Berlin that he sees a similar view. He has made clear that Russia sees as part of European civilization. A common civilization, he added that North America, including the European Union and Russia.
comes These words not only a geographical Orientation, but a focus on common culture and history expressed. And willingness to shape the future of joint!
The Russian president has called for an equal partnership in a common Euro-Atlantic space from Vancouver to Vladivostok. With this statement he has set a goal that we all have reaffirmed in the Charter of Paris.
For a European peace order based on common interests, common values and a common and indivisible security has always been our goal.
In public discussions have Hans-Dietrich Genscher and the defense expert Lothar Rühl the past days emphasized how recent and how important the issue of understanding is above us in contact with security interests in common. This too must be
part of our common agenda - which I understand in terms of a global community of shared responsibility. A community of responsibility, should make it if we want our children and grandchildren to live as peaceful and well as ourselves - and the kids there in some parts of the world, there have even been better.
For Germany and the EU, Russia is such an indispensable partner in shaping the world of tomorrow. We need Russia as a partner. And share responsibility for security and stability also in Europe and far beyond. Only together with Russia, our energy supply in the long run to be safe and peaceful, only together with Russia, we are making progress on the disarmament and the global fight against terrorism to be successful. I am certain that it will be in Europe, the whole Eurasian region no security without or against Russia.
Russia needs Europe too - to bring his country forward politically and to modernize economically. That is why I have proposed a German-Russian Modernization Partnership. In essence, this involves cooperation in areas in which decides our common future: the climate and energy policy, common commitment to energy efficiency, health policy, to mitigate the effects of an aging society, the areas of education and science or the rule of law.
I am pleased that President Medvedev has taken up in my discussions with him in Moscow and Berlin this proposal positively. Are we doing everything we can to understand the modernization partnership as an engine for a good future together.
recently I have told young students at Ural University, Yekaterinburg: We live in a time of decision for the but not the number of tanks and missiles on the strength of a country, but the performance of its Economy, the number of its best brains, the application of knowledge, international networking and the openness of its society.
exactly what we have with the German-Russian Modernization Partnership in view: to make us fit for the global 21st Century. This is not the task of governments. The state can set the frame and flanking the side stand. A partnership is alive but only with concrete ideas, concepts and projects of dedicated people on both sides. A task especially for the Petersburg Dialogue.
Let me give two examples for this.
First, education, training and research are fundamental to any society. Knowledge is the key resource of the future - as we know here at the University of Passau, very accurate! Therefore, we, Germany and Russia, agreed three years ago in a strategic partnership of education, research and innovation. This partnership has contributed to Germany today with almost any other country in the world so close research and academic relations as with Russia. Some 12,000 Russian students study with us, many have done it on their return to top jobs.
But we can do much more. A common theme is the education of young people and a hands-on training. Many companies, by the way German companies are looking for in Russia desperately seeking skilled workers. But the public administration must also work when the economy is to grow.
to education in the broad sense includes the youth exchange. Only when meeting German and Russian young people, if they develop interest in each other and learn the language of another country, the German-Russian relationship remains alive in the future.
The Petersburg Dialogue has always rightly insisted that we do everything from both sides to strengthen the youth exchange. That is the central concern of the Foundation German-Russian Youth Exchange, which emerged from the work of the Petersburg Dialogue.
I would in this context to highlight once again how great is the importance of the mutual language skills. Who speaks the language of others is more easily to one another - whether in business, in research or in the culture. The Initiative builds partner schools precisely this point.
why we do our part for more Russian classes at German schools, more courses at German universities. Can we catch up to the Russians of curiosity and willingness to have some! Thanks also to our cultural and educational policy in Russia, we can see that in any other country in the world to learn German as so many people in Russia!
The second modernization theme, I would like to call it, has approached President Medvedev himself repeatedly. He said that in Russia the improvement of the legal system and rule of law must be implemented when the modernization is to succeed in the country. The support we do!
For example, with advice on laws. With the ongoing education and training of practitioners of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and notaries. We should break new ground with the right scientific cooperation. I am thinking of increasing "train the trainer" programs for young scientists or common law promotion programs. could provide a framework I imagine I look at a German-Russian Center of Competence Law.
these are just two of many future-oriented fields, we can create together. Also in health policy and demography, energy or transport infrastructure, we have very specific ideas about how we can work together concretely and to win both of there! In the area of health care has the Petersburg dialogue, especially with the "cooking Mentschnikow Forum" has a substantial contribution to the modernization agenda done.
Many of these future areas have a European dimension. Therefore, I am very glad that the EU-Russia summit in Khanty-Mansiysk last week is able to give the go-ahead for negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. For two years we have each other in the EU and Moscow down stones and rocks in its path. Ready to go last, and hopefully we can now see more clearly how much we have to give us long term. I also think the long term a free trade area between the EU and Russia are not a utopia, if Russia for a while the world trade organizations.
Leo Tolstoy has given us the following advice on the way: "It is easier to write ten volumes on philosophy than to put a principle into practice."
So let us set to work . Go Let us use the Petersburg Dialogue in order to deepen the partnership between Germany and Russia with new ideas and deeds!
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm looking forward to your suggestions, Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. de Maizière.
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