The Hindu : Front Page : Merkel visit to focus on Asia policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 29, 2007
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Merkel visit to focus on Asia policy

Sandeep Dikshit

She is likely to urge India to accelerate a consensus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Angela Merkel

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive here on Monday amidst a growing realisation in Berlin about the absence of an Asia strategy that encompasses three main spheres — economic, geopolitical and security-related and global interests such as climate protection and protection of resources — to redefine its position in a world shaped by “ever decreasing” Euro-Atlantic influences.

“In principle, the German and European Asia policy must be geared to our long-term interest in securing reliable partners in Asia. Just as all companies take note of developments in Asia, we [politicians] need to be aware of developments in Asia. We also must take a strategic view of Asia in our foreign, trade and security policies as well as in our education policy,” said a highly placed official of the ruling Christian Democratic Union.

To meet Pratibha Patil

In her official engagements that begin on Tuesday, Dr. Merkel is expected to touch on all the three aspects. She will meet President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, will call on the German Chancellor, who is also scheduled to visit Mumbai.

The interactions will see Dr. Merkel urging India to accelerate a consensus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The issue is close to Dr. Merkel’s heart — she was the Environment Minister earlier — and she has struck a rapport with Dr. Singh by taking on board his suggestion for a criteria based on per capita emission. In fact, she acknowledged Dr. Singh’s proposal at the recent United Nations General Assembly and said it provided a basis to take forward negotiations on the issue. “Next year, we [Europe] are prepared to shoulder more responsibilities. But we cannot solve the problem without the support of other countries,” she noted earlier this week.

Combating terrorism

With Germany involved in military operations in Afghanistan, Dr. Merkel will be seeking a constructive approach from India on the Convention on International Terrorism. The two sides have set up a Joint Working Group on combating terrorism, and Germany has acknowledged India’s importance with respect to the security situation in the region by eschewing an intrusive approach on Kashmir, said Indian diplomats.

Trade issue

While these issues will be discussed in closed-door meetings with the top Indian political leadership, economics and scientific exchanges will occupy centre stage during Dr. Merkel’s public engagements. She will spell out her government’s policy for strengthening trade and investment relations with India at an interaction with leading businesspeople from both countries. One of her top advisers said Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and the world’s biggest exporter, was comfortable doing business with India because of its adherence to intellectual property rights and the Anglo-American pattern of accounting and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Exhibition on wheels

Dr. Merkel will also inaugurate “Science Express,” a mega exhibition of German scientific achievements on wheels that will cover over 50 cities.

The heads of leading German academic and scientific institutions such as Max Planck and Helmoltz will be accompanying Dr. Merkel.

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