For a forward-looking politics
International understanding and political solutions to conflicts: Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Germany’s responsibility in foreign policy matters.
On the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War last year we commemorated the liberation of Germany from the inhuman Nazi tyranny. This liberation and with it Germany’s return to the international community as a recognized member has assigned us a special responsibility: the responsibility of “never again alone”. We are called upon in our foreign policy to work for understanding between peoples, for political solutions in conflicts and for the preservation of peace-keeping structures. The international order designed to ensure peace has come under strong pressure in recent months. Therefore it is all the more important that we take even earlier and more targeted action. Ideally our foreign policy looks ahead and prevents conflicts before they arise.
In this context the protection and strengthening of human rights play a special role, for systematic human rights violations are frequently the first step on the way to conflict and crisis. We consider protecting the basic rights held by each individual as an elementary precondition for peace and security, stability and sustainable and just development. In the future we aim to focus even more strongly on systematic civil crisis prevention and long-term peace-building.
To this end the German Federal Foreign Office has also been restructured. We seek to remain a competent partner for our fellow EU member states and the international community, one that fulfils its responsibility and helps overcome the challenges of the day where they arise.
