JEDDAH -- A senior German government head yesterday said that people should not read too deeply into Pope Benedict's recent remarks that have aroused anger among Muslims across the world.
"The comment demonstrates that we have to find a specific way of talking to each other," Peter Harry Carstensen, president of Des Deutschen Bundesraf (second chamber of German parliament) and prime minister of Des Landes Schleswig-Holstein (federal state), told Arab News in an interview at Consul General Hubert Lang's residence.
"The quote of the person (pope) is not what we have to refer to, but we have to speak to each other. We should not only listen to what we have to refer to (the quote), but we have to speak to each other," he said when asked to comment on the pope's remarks.
"I've certain difficulties in answering your question, as I had left my country when the pope remarked and have not read the actual quote myself. However, we should not only listen to what people say but rather listen to what they mean in their heart."
The official, who enjoys the status of the country's vice president, hoped that the pope will not be misunderstood "because it's a quote and not an opinion," he said and preferred not to go into a detailed comment.
He emphasized that through mutual exchanges, people, and especially students, should understand each other. "People in Arab countries should understand Europeans and European countries should understand the Arab world," he said.
Carstensen, who earlier in the day met Crown Prince Sultan, and also ministers of agriculture and health during his stay since arriving on Friday, said his visit was aimed at further strengthening the bilateral ties.
He said Germany had always supported the Middle East peace process especially during the recent Israeli attack on Lebanon, and was appreciative of the fact that the Kingdom was playing a "stabilizing" role in the region. "Even on the Lebanon issue, we pursued our stand that both (Lebanon and Israel) should find a solution through dialogue."
Germany, which celebrates its Unity Day on Oct. 3 to mark the union of western and eastern parts of Germany, said its relations with the Kingdom had spanned over 75 years. The ties were further strengthened with the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in 2001 in his capacity then as the crown prince, and the subsequent visit of former German Schroeder Chancellor to the Kingdom.
Carstensen, who also met with top officials of the Shoura Council, said Germany intended to intensify its contacts at the education and research levels. He also visited the King Abdul Aziz Medical City.
Carstensen said his country had three million Muslims. "We have introduced instructions in Islam. In my federal state, we offer education in Islam in the German language," he said.
He said he had been getting requests from imams for German entry visas. "But I note that they don't speak the German language. And that can come in the way of integration. All people in Germany must speak the German language."
Germany has tremendous interests in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding: "We want to see developments in Saudi Arabia. And we have our own interest in it."
