NEW DELHI, 4 March 2003 – The Iraq crisis dominates German President Johannes Rau’s five-day India visit. Rau was given a warm welcome yesterday morning at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by President APK Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other Cabinet members.
Discussions on the Iraq crisis figured prominently in the German president’s talks with his Indian counterpart Kalam and Premier Vajpayee, with the strengthening of Indo-German ties coming a close second.
According to informed sources, both India and Germany do not agree with the American stand of waging war against Iraq.
Earlier the German Ambassador to India Heimo Richter had stressed that both India and Germany favored a peaceful settlement of the Iraq crisis through the United Nations, as war was “always the worst solution.”
“Germany and India have basically the same position on Iraq — that is, give peace a chance and work through the UN. If you are convinced there is an alternative (to war), then you work on that alternative,” Richter said.
Johannes Rau is the first German president to visit India since President Richard von Weizsaecker’s India visit in 1991, when the then Gulf crisis also figured prominently. “My visit to your great country highlights the traditionally close relations between India and Germany,” Rau said in an exclusive interview. “We value India as a major partner which plays an increasingly important role in a fast-changing world.”
Germany is India’s fourth largest trading partner and ranks sixth in terms of approved investments, amounting to $2.4 billion in 2001. Bilateral trade crossed the $5 billion mark in 2001.
“The German president’s visit shows the interest of both countries to maintain political dialogue at the highest level,” a senior Indian official said.
On India’s desire to be included in UN Security Council, Rau was diplomatic. “Germany would like to see the Security Council reflect global changes. The question of who should be added as a new permanent member is particularly tricky. I believe that, given the role India plays in today’s world, it is a natural candidate for a permanent seat in the Security Council,” he said. “However, the ultimate decision (about support for India’s application) will have to be taken by the German Assembly,” he added.
Rau will leave for Hyderabad today, where he will visit the HITECH City and the National Space Research Agency.
