Tribalists

MÜNCHEN/GUMMERSBACH/BAGHDAD (german-foreign-policy.com) - Following the closing of the German-Iraqi economic conference in Munich, the organizers are speaking of a great business success. A speaker for the organizers told german-foreign-policy.com that German enterprises were able "to make contacts and establish networks". From Munich, one can also hear that the improvement of security in Iraq is the prerequisite for initiating direct business ties. Through flanking political influence, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assisting efforts of German businesses in re-attaining their leading position in commerce with that Gulf state. Included are demands for the immediate withdrawal of the US occupation forces. At the same time, Berlin is promoting the adoption of a German concept of structure. Even Iraqi participants at the conference find "Germany a model in many respects".

Preparing

Approximately 300 Iraqis participated with more than 200 German businessmen in the 2nd German-Iraqi Economic Conference. The first conference was held in April 2004, in Berlin. Several members of the Iraqi government and high-ranking representatives of the German government and financial institutions also took part. "We are very pleased with the event" the spokesperson of the Munich Industrie- und Handelskammer - IHK - (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) told german-foreign-policy.com. The IHK had organized this conference under the patronage of the German Ministry of the Economy. It was possible "to establish networks", allowing the initiation of work in Iraq - as soon as security permits. "Some concrete business transactions" had "already started". The Munich mega-event is complemented with a "training program" covering several months, offered by the IHK to 50 Iraqi skilled employees. The training program includes courses in German and 11-week-internships in German enterprises.[1]

Regaining

If successful in "stabilising and augmenting" Iraq's oil production, and therefore regaining it's former importance, "the country could again become the region's (...) economic vanguard", declared the Bavarian Prime Minister, Edmund Stoiber, at the opening of the conference.[2] In the early 1980s, the Federal Republic of Germany succeeded in becoming Iraq's most important commercial partner, selling goods worth up to 4 billion Euros per-year. Even though the German-Iraqi economic exchange has collapsed in the meantime, the stock of machines from earlier exports to Iraq, allows hope of follow-up and new orders, according to the IHK in Munich. Export possibilities beyond competition are therefore opening up to important sectors of the German economy.

Flank

To help insure and flank the commerce at the political level, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AA) is financing so-called study tours, to convince Iraqi participants of the advantages of the German model of state structure. Recently, 15 high-level politicians from Baghdad, were allowed a privileged insight into the German federal state system. Having taken place immediately before the publication of the first draft of Iraq's constitution, the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation believes, the "discussion of Iraq's constitution could have been directly influenced" through this visit. This Foundation, which is close to the FDP (Liberal Party) had organized this program carried out by the AA.[3] "Germany serves as a model in many aspects", one Iraqi participant declared to the German press, while avoiding to mention that the social conditions of the two countries cannot be compared.[4]

Praise

The German-Iraqi cooperation is also profiting from a limited knowledge of facts. Iraqi participants in the study tour praised their hosts: Germany did not "take part in the war on Iraq" and "has never been an occupier of an Arab country".[5] During World War I, the German military command had planned the take-over of British and French colonies in the Middle East. German troops invaded Arab North Africa in World War II. Berlin is granting the USA logistical support in the current war [6] while striving to maintain a pacifist image. The role-playing in Berlin allows for the Iraqi guests' critical comments. According to the journal, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," the participants of the study tour called for "the withdrawal of the Americans", to the pleasure of German business circles. The desires for peace are based on competitive interests and directed against US hegemony. The USA has " its hands on" the energy sector the "military and police", says Richard Avemann, director of the regional office of the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amman. Iraq falls into its sphere of responsibility.[7] The withdrawal of the British American military would eliminate this disadvantage.

Resist

Accordingly repeated recommendations to this effect are being made by the semi-official German foreign policy institutions. Volker Perthes, the director designate of the Berlin Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP - German Institute for International and Security Affairs) pleads for dismantling US hegemony in Arab states. In a twelve point paper, the German policy adviser writes that the EU should independently choose its allies and "resist pressure from the USA, Israel or Arab states". Attempts should be rejected that are aimed at prohibiting the cooperation with "credible civil society protagonists, whether they be Islamist, pan-Arab or whether they be of anti-colonialist, left-wing, progressive orientation or even tribalists".[8] The regional spectrum outlined above is being cared for by German political foundations who are dividing the tasks among themselves.[9]

Prerequisite

The independent choice of Arab allies without primary consideration for NATO allies and regional governments concerned, as demanded by Perthes, is the prerequisite for the offensive assertion of German-European interests in respect to the regional resources of the Near and Middle East and Northern Africa. It has nothing to do with aspirations for peace.

[1] Investieren im Minenfeld; Spiegel Online 21.07.2005
[2] Stoiber eröffnet Deutsch-Irakische Wirtschaftskonferenz: Deutsche Wirtschaftsunternehmen können wichtigen Beitrag zum Wiederaufbau im Irak leisten; Pressemitteilung der Bayerischen Staatskanzlei 19.07.2005
[3] Verfassungsberatung Irak; www.fnst.de/webcom/show_article.php/ _c-449/_nr-422/_p-1/i.html
[4], [5] Zum Reden nach Deutschland. Die Autoren der irakischen Verfassung auf Ideensuche; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 15.07.2005
[6] see also Offer for support
[7] Reinhard Avemann, Leiter des Regionalbüros Amman der Deutsch-Arabischen IHK, im WDR 5 Morgenecho am 19.07.2005
[8] Hochmut und Hast können nur schaden. Ein Dutzend guter Ratschläge, wie Europa Reformen in arabischen Ländern unterstützen könnte. Von Volker Perthes und Rami G. Khouri; Frankfurter Rundschau 15.07.2005
[9] see also Hegemony Conflict


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