In the referendum on Sunday, 28 February, the Swiss population rejected the proposal to automatically deport foreigners who commit crimes, without taking into account the ...
Nearly 1 million views and thousands of fans on Facebook – these are just some of the statistics showing the popularity of 'The Bigh Daddy ...
To promote integration in the classroom and to introduce students to other cultures through food. This is the objective of "Intercultural Menus at School" (“Menu ...Speaking on the fringes of the UN Security Council meeting in New York today (28 February), Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement on Jochen Flasbarth’s candidacy for Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Jochen Flasbarth is an outstanding candidate for the post of UNEP Executive Director. He has decades of expertise and management experience in the field of climate policy, environmental protection and nature conservation. Most recently he showed at the Paris Climate Conference that he can be counted on when it comes to tackling the challenges posed by climate change and Agenda 2030 implementation resolutely and without hesitation.
Jochen Flasbarth’s candidacy has the full support of the German Government. In my talks, including here in New York, I can only urge everyone to recognise Jochen Flasbarth’s outstanding qualities and to support his candidacy.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which was established in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, is the United Nations’ “environmental conscience”. As a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, UNEP’s task is to identify and analyse environmental problems, elaborate principles for environmental protection, develop regional environmental protection programmes and help developing countries build up national environmental protection programmes. Since 2006 UNEP has been headed by German-Brazilian Achim Steiner. His term as Executive Director ends in 2016.
Jochen Flasbarth is the German Government’s official candidate to succeed Achim Steiner. For almost 20 years, as President of NABU - Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union and of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), he has been instrumental in shaping German environment policy. Since 2013 he has devoted himself with the same passion and commitment to his work as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
Speaking on the fringes of the UN Security Council meeting in New York today (28 February), Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement on Jochen Flasbarth’s candidacy for Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Jochen Flasbarth is an outstanding candidate for the post of UNEP Executive Director. He has decades of expertise and management experience in the field of climate policy, environmental protection and nature conservation. Most recently he showed at the Paris Climate Conference that he can be counted on when it comes to tackling the challenges posed by climate change and Agenda 2030 implementation resolutely and without hesitation.
Jochen Flasbarth’s candidacy has the full support of the German Government. In my talks, including here in New York, I can only urge everyone to recognise Jochen Flasbarth’s outstanding qualities and to support his candidacy.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which was established in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi, is the United Nations’ “environmental conscience”. As a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, UNEP’s task is to identify and analyse environmental problems, elaborate principles for environmental protection, develop regional environmental protection programmes and help developing countries build up national environmental protection programmes. Since 2006 UNEP has been headed by German-Brazilian Achim Steiner. His term as Executive Director ends in 2016.
Jochen Flasbarth is the German Government’s official candidate to succeed Achim Steiner. For almost 20 years, as President of NABU - Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union and of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), he has been instrumental in shaping German environment policy. Since 2013 he has devoted himself with the same passion and commitment to his work as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin on 28 February ahead of his trip to New York and Washington:
The German-American friendship is a valuable asset, our transatlantic community of shared values indispensable.
Cooperation with the US in the foreign policy field has perhaps never been so close or so imbued with a spirit of partnership than it is today. In these truly turbulent times, in a world which seems to have got out of joint, and also in light of some strident comments made during the American primaries, that is a trump card which we have to value and cherish.
That is why cooperation and exchange across the Atlantic are so important. That is why it is worth the effort consolidating bilateral relations and discussing all issues of importance with such a close partner.
This is what we are doing! We stand united in our crisis policy, liaise very closely and divide tasks. Together with France, Germany has assumed a key role in the Ukraine conflict. The US is leading the way with courage, perseverance and good judgement in the Middle East, especially Syria.
Even though I have certainly seen John Kerry more than a dozen times during the last few months, and we have spoken on the phone even more frequently, taking the time to meet in person to look carefully at the whole range of challenges and conflicts we have to tackle together is of inestimable value.
During my talks in Washington, the key issue will of course be the situation in Syria so shortly after the start of the ceasefire. We want to build on the progress made during the Munich negotiations, which is now becoming visible. However, the refugee crisis, relations with Russia and the situation in Ukraine will also play a major role in my talks.
In New York, I would like to take the opportunity to present the priorities of our OSCE Chairmanship to the UN Security Council and to the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Especially in difficult and turbulent times, we need strong multilateral organisations as platforms for dialogue, as instruments for conflict resolution and as institutions which promote our values and principles – the OSCE and the United Nations are such organisations.
Speaking to Welt on Sonntag newspaper on 27 February, Foreign Minister Steinmeier made the following comments on the ceasefire in Syria:
Thousands of Syrians were still sceptical when they emerged from the protection of the bunkers and ruins last night. For the first time in many years, they woke up with the hope of a day without massive bomb attacks, without missiles, a day without fear. The agreed ceasefire was not immediately observed one hundred per cent everywhere. For the first time, however, there is a chance of a genuine breathing space.
It seems to be much quieter in many parts of the country. And it is clear that with every hour the ceasefire holds, the hope of peace in Syria grows for millions of Syrians not only in the country itself but also for those around the world who have fled war and terror. This also means there is a greater onus on everyone not to dash these dreams.
We cannot allow provocateurs to destroy what has been achieved during the last few weeks since Munich.
It is also important now that we use the opportunity provided by the ceasefire to further improve humanitarian access. The Syrian Government bears the primary responsibility for this. Assistance must be allowed into Syria quickly so that help to stabilise the situation on the ground can be provided wherever possible. We are talking about this with UNDP, GIZ and others. Most importantly, as agreed in Munich and recently announced by Staffan de Mistura, a genuine political dialogue between the opposition and the regime must now begin. For the ceasefire will not hold for ever without genuine political change.
On 26 February, Foreign Minister Steinmeier commented as follows on the situation in Syria:
The negotiations in Munich are showing the first encouraging signs of bearing fruit: after a long time, we are finally seeing progress in the humanitarian sphere in Syria. During the last few days, it has already been possible to reach and get supplies to 120,000 people in besieged towns. We want the authorisations for aid deliveries to be issued more quickly and we want even more besieged towns and villages to be reached. Attempts must continue to enable aid air drops. Given the security situation, it is clear that this would have to be done from a great height and would therefore be more difficult to carry out. Germany is making a substantial contribution to these aid supplies.
Another important step we agreed on in Munich was a ceasefire. Today all key players and armed groups stated their readiness to observe this ceasefire. We hope that, as planned, it will enter into force tonight.
We are extremely concerned by reports that the Syrian regime has dropped barrel bombs on the town of Daraya. We urge the Syrian regime to stop attacks on the civilian population. All parties to the conflict are called upon to refrain from taking any steps which could jeopardise the ceasefire so shortly before it comes into effect.
This document lists immigration and nationality fees, and unit costs for all application categories.
In January, the Home Office introduced legislation to set the maximum amounts it can charge for visa, immigration and nationality applications over the next 4 years. This legislation is now in force.
Today, 26 February, the Home Office laid further legislation in Parliament, which will make changes to specific application fees.
The new legislation will come into effect on 18 March (6 April for the Isle of Man).
The main changes are:
visas linked most closely to economic growth, such as those offered to workers and students, will be increased by 2%
a 2% increase will apply to all visit visas to help maintain the UK’s position as one of the world’s top tourist destinations
an increase of up to 25% will apply to settlement, residence and nationality fees, as these routes deliver the most benefits to successful applicants
an increase of up to 33% for optional premium services offered by the Home Office such as the super premium service and priority visa services overseas
Fees for all sponsorship categories will be held at the current rates.
These changes ensure that the Home Office can achieve a self-funding system, whilst continuing to provide a competitive level of service, and a fees structure that remains attractive to businesses, migrants and visitors.
A full list of the new fees can be found in the fees table.
In January, the Home Office introduced legislation to set the maximum amounts it can charge for visa, immigration and nationality applications over the next 4 years. This legislation is now in force.
Today, 26 February, the Home Office laid further legislation in Parliament, which will make changes to specific application fees.
The new legislation will come into effect on 18 March (6 April for the Isle of Man).
The main changes are:
visas linked most closely to economic growth, such as those offered to workers and students, will be increased by 2%
a 2% increase will apply to all visit visas to help maintain the UK’s position as one of the world’s top tourist destinations
an increase of up to 25% will apply to settlement, residence and nationality fees, as these routes deliver the most benefits to successful applicants
an increase of up to 33% for optional premium services offered by the Home Office such as the super premium service and priority visa services overseas
Fees for all sponsorship categories will be held at the current rates.
These changes ensure that the Home Office can achieve a self-funding system, whilst continuing to provide a competitive level of service, and a fees structure that remains attractive to businesses, migrants and visitors.
A full list of the new fees can be found in the fees table.
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In Spain has been presented a guide for immigrants with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Translated into Arabic and Romanian the goal of the precious handbook ...Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement to the Funke Media Group
I am happy that such a vast majority of people in Germany rejects xenophobia and racism. I see that every day. Our signal is that we are not going to let our country be discredited by those who despise our democracy and try to spread racism using inarticulate scaremongering. After all, our country and its people are firmly rooted in a culture of openness, tolerance and a readiness to help. This will remain so. Whenever refugees in our country are scared, treated with hostility and threatened, we will take a stand against hatred and show democratic backbone, humanity and solidarity. We simply will not tolerate refugees being attacked and refugee shelters set alight.
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Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement on 24 February on the delivery of aid supplies from the air to the ISIS‑besieged city of Deir ez‑Zor in Syria:
With the airlift that has now been established to deliver aid supplies to the IS‑besieged city of Deir ez‑Zor, another point agreed at last week's Munich meeting on Syria has been implemented. To this end Germany is making five million euros available for the United Nations World Food Programme and is thus shouldering a considerable proportion of the costs. By so doing we want to emphasise that humanitarian assistance has to be able to reach all those in need throughout Syria, regardless of political and military battle lines. Hunger must not be used as a means of warfare.
On 24 February, Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement on the current situation in Libya:
Libya’s political development is at a crossroads. The government of national unity must now be endorsed by the parliament in Tobruk – that is one of the central elements of the peace agreement brokered by the United Nations which the parties to the conflict signed in December.
Yesterday, 101 deputies gave their seal of approval to the current cabinet list by lending their signatures. This courageous initiative by a majority in the Libyan Parliament deserves our full support. I call upon Parliament President Aguila Saleh to now carry out a vote of confidence on the cabinet list in the very near future.
The recent reports on heavy fighting in Benghazi, the second largest city in Libya, are a sharp reminder that there is no time left for tactical manoeuvring: the time has come to show responsibility for Libya. This is the only way to finally tackle the pressing problems of violence and IS terror.
Many people think there are just two factors that determine whether immigrant integration policies either succeed or fail: one is the lack of cultural openness ...
A recommendation letter should be written by your professor or employer or trainer, depending on what suits best for the occasion. Some students may bring all of the above and more, but we suggest you only bring two or three maximum letters of recommendation as it is not necessary to have so many if the writing is repetitious! There may be a recommendation letter written by the school counselors and two academic teachers.
If you wish to enclose more recommendation letters, we encourage that you do so only if the recommendation letter is capable to bring something new and additional compared to the rest. If not, then the quality over quantity approach is recommended!
These are very valuable things to be considered during the admission process. Intangible things are what the admission officers are really interested in, since the tangible things are already on their hands, like: the transcript, grades, and scores. A grade or course cannot truly demonstrate the way that the student adds to the educational environment, which is crucial for the officers to have access to.
The recommender should also try to elaborate on their student’s maturity – social, academic or community maturity.
The whole point is to know more about the person through these questions and especially through a teacher’s voice. Put yourself in the position of the admissions officer and think what could make your student really stand out among the rest! Students that are willing and eager to learn are the ones every university is looking after. Authenticity is an important tool that would differentiate the student among thousands of applicants/candidates. As a recommender, you should insert things that are impressive about the student’s personality and their ways of thinking. It is important to understand how the student goes about processing and thinking through classes. These are the particular things that make admission officers get to know the student/candidate!
The recommender should really understand the student and be ready to describe the student by telling a story that does show their positive traits, the course overload, and everything that is integrated in that story should be connected to the student.
If the student you are being asked to write a letter of recommendation for is one you do not know very well or is not the best in class, we suggest you either try to bring out their uniqueness or if you do not feel compatible as to write for them, better tell them the truth! It may be hard having to tell it straight to the student, but it is always better than to write a mediocre letter. You will be doing the student a favor in the long run if you tell them the truth!
Or you can always try a different approach and starting asking the student questions like: why are they interested in applying in the particular university? What makes the specific university so exciting in order for the student to want to apply? Ask in order to really understand the motives behind the student’s decisions and then start writing from there! And if you will write then try to be focused on their unique way of being and give details in that respect. Focus on the intangibles, as the admission officers are always looking after those. Keep in mind!
The student has the right to know if the recommender sent the letter for them! It is advised that the recommender keeps a hard copy of the letter, in any case!
The worst that could happen is having the same teacher write the same letter of recommendation for multiple students and saying the exact same words in all letters, except for the students’ names. That is a no-no!
The school counselor is more to write about the context of the school, the context of the student body and how students that are willing to pursue higher education contribute to the school and the educational system, whereas the teachers should tell the story and the performance of the student when in class!
The post How to write a recommendation letter appeared first on Study in Germany for Free.
A motivational letter is the most personalized and important document you can conduct in order to send towards a desired university, where you will have the chance to present yourself and grant yourself a great opportunity!
Here, you can write relevant and interesting details about yourself which can prove to the admission officers that you are motivated and the right candidate to be selected to participate in their program. It plays a decisive role in determining whether you will be accepted or not. It can be very challenging to present yourself in the way that would convince the study institution. Even if you are an outstanding student with the highest grades, many accomplishments, and very motivated you may not make it to a university based on the way you have written your motivational letter. These characteristics must show in the best possible way in your motivational letter without sounding flat, otherwise it will be considered inadequate!
It does not have to be personal in a way that would make it irrelevant, rather focus on your intellectual personality. Be careful to not indulge a lot in your deficit side; always focus on your strengths and reasons why you are the right person for the university.
*Suggestion: plan ahead before attempting your final draft writings. Firstly, plan the concept, then the layout, the structure and fine-tuning.
There are many examples of motivational letters available online, but here are condensed a few tips to keep in mind, that have proven useful by pure experience:
The post How to write a motivational letter for university admission in Germany appeared first on Study in Germany for Free.
Later on, Mother’s Day, recognized as “Mothering Sunday” altered its dedication and was celebrated by Early Christians as a religious festival – a modern form of celebrating the Mother’s Day, held on the last Sunday of Lent for honoring the Virgin Mary.
In the United Kingdom and Europe this day celebration took place as a day for honoring all the mothers without an exception of their religious, educational or political position. This day remained a tradition thereafter; celebrated in such a form where children offered flowers and gifts to their mothers after the prayer service for Virgin Mary was held in the Church.
In the United States, manifestation of Mother’s Day arose in 1872 as a proposal of Julia Ward Howe – a poet and writer that became a well known for her song dedicated to the Civil War “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. She advocated for June 2 to become the official celebration date of Mother’s Day – as a day for promoting the world peace. Later on, in 1908, Anna Jarvis initiated the Mother’s Day celebration and she lobbied for this day to become an official U.S. holiday. In 1911, almost every country in U. S. was celebrating this day, and officially on the eighth of May 1914, this came to be a U.S. official holiday by the President Woodrow Wilson – where through a resolution he distinguished the 2nd Sunday of May as the official U. S. Mother’s Day.
Despite the historical cycle of Mother’s Day, this holiday since the 20th Century stretched almost everywhere around the world, in different countries and cultures, and even nowadays this is a very popular holiday, celebrated annually. Even these days, Mother’s Day holiday is still celebrated almost universally: in U.S., Asia, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, Europe, Turkey and broadly.
The remarkable element of the Mother’s Day is that its celebration date is not internationally unified – contrary, this day is celebrated in very different dates, depending on the country and historical development of it. Still, the purpose of this very unique and significant festivity does not differ and it is unanimously united – is it to honor the figure of the mother and motherhood mission – mother’s great love and dedication given on growing, teaching their children and evolving the humankind.
As aforesaid, dates of celebration of this day differ; hence if you go in Australia and United States this day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May, while in Thailand this day is celebrated on the occasion of celebrating the existing Thailand Queen’s birthday – H.M. Queen Sirikit on August 12, in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of Lent, and it is different in the other world countries.
Likewise, the name of Mother’s Day is not unified – i.e., in France this day is known as “Fete Des Meres”, in Germany as “Muttertag”, in Spain as “Día De las Madres”, in Norway as “Morsdag”, while in Romania is identified as “Ziua Mamei” and so forth.
However, despite the differences in Mother’s Day around the globe, there is no exceptional dissimilarity amongst celebrating practices of it. In most of the countries this day is celebrated by children offering to their mothers gifts such as: flowers, jewelries, parfumes, cards and other gifts. There is a lot of commercialization of the Mother’s Day besides, where tons of flowers, cards and different other gifts that are especially produced and sold for this day. Some families also celebrate this day by organizing family joining together activities with a dinner of homemade cookings. Given the importance that this this special woman/mother dedicated day has for the country, in the United States people even got to put national flags in their homes during the Mother’s Day.
Muttertag is the German name used to identify the Mother’s Day. This day in Germany is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May, while if this day happens to be the Pentecost “Pfingstsonntag” – the Christian festival for celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit (held on the 7th Sunday following Easter) than Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of May (a week earlier).
The history of Muttertag in Germany originates in the Middle Ages – in one of the Federal Areas of Germany “Thuringia”, where people used to celebrate the opening of Spring by taking a day-off for visiting relatives – especially their parents and by marking it as a time when women gave life to the humanity.
The year 1922 was the time when the Germans started to celebrate Mother’s Day for the first time and in 1933 this occasion was declared an official holiday to be celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May.
During the Nazi time Mother’s Day gained a remarkable position, where a tradition of giving bronze, silver and gold medals for the German mothers was established. But this “golden area” of Mother’s Day did not last for too long as by the end of the World War II Mother’s Day misplaced its German elements, replaced by the American elements of celebration by offering flowers and cards to mothers.
The way German people celebrate Mother’s Day is not actually very dissimilar from other world countries. First of all, there are a lot of phone calls that German mothers receive from their children – as a form to express gratitude and adoration for their mums for the love and care given to them. There are a lot of colorful flowers that German mothers get in this day. Moreover, there are also white flowers sent to the graves of dead mothers as well. Other forms of gifts are also chocolates, parfumes, cards or e-cards, different surprising visits or traveling tickets and so forth. It is also very common for some to visit their parents and cook in their homes for their mothers.
Moreover, there is a Cross of Honour of the German Mother – introduced by the Government of the Deutsches Reich in 1938, given the importance that Germany has given to the motherhood mission.
The following are the dates of Mother’s Day for the four year period of 2016-2019:
Weblinks:
The post Mother’s Day and Muttertag appeared first on Study in Germany for Free.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement today (23 February) following his joint visit to Kyiv with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault:
It is clear – not only from the German and French perspective, but also after many talks in Kyiv – that nothing is easy in Ukrainian domestic politics and that progress in the reform process must be fought for time and again.
The situation remains difficult also today. It is unclear whether and how a new reform-oriented government majority can be found in the Rada following the events of last week. Some are even calling for new elections. Many legislative projects by the Yatsenyuk Government have been submitted to the Rada and are awaiting consideration by the Parliament.
Our Franco-German message in this situation was clear. Our expectation of and appeal to all those exercising political responsibility is for them to ensure that no further time is lost and to refrain from political trench warfare and focus on implementing the reform agenda with all due vigour – in the interests of an independent and free Ukraine that is able to hold its own.
It is impossible to overstate the point that only countries that enjoy internal stability and gear up for the future can resist external threats.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement today (23 February) following his joint visit to Kyiv with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault:
It is clear – not only from the German and French perspective, but also after many talks in Kyiv – that nothing is easy in Ukrainian domestic politics and that progress in the reform process must be fought for time and again.
The situation remains difficult also today. It is unclear whether and how a new reform-oriented government majority can be found in the Rada following the events of last week. Some are even calling for new elections. Many legislative projects by the Yatsenyuk Government have been submitted to the Rada and are awaiting consideration by the Parliament.
Our Franco-German message in this situation was clear. Our expectation of and appeal to all those exercising political responsibility is for them to ensure that no further time is lost and to refrain from political trench warfare and focus on implementing the reform agenda with all due vigour – in the interests of an independent and free Ukraine that is able to hold its own.
It is impossible to overstate the point that only countries that enjoy internal stability and gear up for the future can resist external threats.
-- Translation of advance text --
Mr President,
Fellow members of the German Bundestag,
The Horn of Africa has been a persistent focus of the global crisis landscape for many years. This goes particularly for crisis-stricken Somalia.
Over twenty years of civil war, humanitarian emergencies and Islamist terror have left their mark on the country. It therefore comes as little surprise that Somalia has only seldom made positive headlines in recent years.
In view of current political developments, the international community is currently approaching Somalia with cautious optimism once more.
After a difficult but ultimately successful process, the Somali cabinet agreed on 27 January to a model for national elections that are to be held this very same year. The year 2016 therefore has the potential to be a turning point in the country’s development.
The most recent developments underscore the Somali Government’s willingness to reassume responsibility for the country’s political destiny. Our shared goal is for Somalia to stand on its own two feet once again in the medium term – politically, economically and militarily.
In all honesty, though, the election process agreed on is at odds with the prevailing view of democracy in Europe.
As a “Somali model”, however, it will take account of the realities of Somalia’s society, political culture and traditions. We will accompany the implementation process with the aim of achieving as much transparency and democracy as possible.
Fellow members of this House,
A difficult path of small steps towards rebuilding functioning state structures was started out on with the transitional constitution agreed in 2012. The Somali people is going down this path under unimaginably difficult conditions. The Islamist terror militia Al‑Shabaab is committing terrorist attacks across the country. In addition to this, droughts and famines bring Somalia to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe time and again.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of Somalis and the international community, Somalia is now no longer considered to be a failed state, however. But it is still a fragile state. And there is a long and difficult path to tread before we can actually speak of “good governance”. Somalia is reliant on our help not only for the first few kilometres of this path, but for the duration of its journey.
Our stabilisation policy continues to seek to establish a measure of effective governance with a view to responding to the population’s basic needs. In addition to safeguarding access to water, food, energy and a functioning healthcare system, the Somali state must also ensure that the most basic human need – peace, stability and security – is met.
Our military commitment within the framework of the EU training mission EUTM is embedded within a comprehensive approach. We have, in addition, launched a member of bilateral projects that are strengthening civil society and state structures and promoting democracy. Germany’s renewed efforts in the area of development cooperation in Somalia will play an even greater role in the future.
Fellow members of this House,
We should not forget that the Somali army is being built from the ground up. At the same time, Somali troops are already standing shoulder to shoulder with AMISOM in the fight against the Al‑Shabaab terrorist militias.
Cooperation in the security sector in a country that is in the grip of an armed conflict is a highly sensitive and difficult task.
Important progress has been made in the area of building up the Somali security forces in recent years, however. The international community and the Somali Government have agreed to planning principles and goals for building up the army and police.
The structures of the Somalia Pact have led to considerably greater transparency and improved channels of communication. There is a credible political dialogue between the Somali Government, the United Nations and international donors on the issue of who does what.
The EUTM Somalia mission has become established as an important and valued partner. The EU mission has already achieved a great deal despite the ongoing difficult climate.
Around 5,000 Somali soldiers have been trained since 2010 – first in Uganda and, since 2014, now also on Somali soil in Mogadishu.
Together with our EU partners and the High Representative, we agree that this commitment should be continued beyond the period of the EU mandate, which is due to expire in December 2016. And we are doing this in full awareness of the unchanged difficult general conditions.
This is, after all, why we are committed to achieving improvements, such as ensuring that the mission, working closely with AMISOM, will focus even more intensely on providing support for building up the administrative and leadership structures of the Somali armed forces. The EU has the potential to make a genuine difference here within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy.
We intend to consolidate initial successes in the efforts to shore up the Somali armed forces and ensure that Somalia takes sole responsibility for its military in the long term.
We are aware of the current, in some areas considerable structural shortcomings of the Somali armed forces. There is a lack of organisational basis, process knowledge of administrative procedures and supply of command and control assets.
Everyday experience also shows us that military elites are still comparatively unresponsive to the benefits of a functioning armed forces organisation that is accountable to the civilian political leadership.
Training should focus on these deficits in particular in the future. EUTM Somalia is undertaking important and essential pioneering work in this area. Particularly the younger generation of the soldiers being trained as part of the EU mission gives us hope.
A motivated, well‑trained new generation of the Somali military, one which is conversant with the principles of international humanitarian law, is coming to the fore.
With the decision by the Bundestag to continue the participation of German servicemen and women in the EU‑led advisory and training mission EUTM Somalia, Germany is sending a strong signal of its continued support for Somalia’s nation-building efforts. On behalf of the Federal Government, fellow members of this House, I ask you for your active support in this venture.
Exchange of goods, going on holiday or a year abroad. Schengen with its open borders makes that possible. Reintroducing internal border controls would mean that ...
Since September 2015, nearly two immigrant children per day, on average, have died in the Eastern Mediterranean on their way to Europe. In total, 340 ...Speaking on the margins of his visit to Kyiv, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented as follows on the evening of 22 February on the announcement of a ceasefire in Syria:
Following the agreements reached in Munich between the Vienna process parties, ten days of intensive negotiations behind the scenes without major public statements have now produced results.
We have not yet achieved our goal. However, a robust agreement on reducing the violence and halting the fighting – as agreed in Munich – is now very close at hand, closer than it has been in years.
Each of the Vienna process powers must be aware of what is at stake. Any of the parties to the conflict in Syria that does not adhere to the ceasefire from Friday night clearly does not have an interest in a political settlement and must expect a united and resolute reaction by the international community.
It would be an urgently needed success and a genuine glimmer of hope for the people in Syria if diplomatic perseverance, tenacity and patient negotiating finally paid off.
Commenting on the resignation of Christoph Strässer as Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin on 22 February:
Christoph Strässer has my heartfelt thanks for his untiring and impassioned work for human rights and in humanitarian aid.
It was with a heavy heart that I accepted his resignation. Christoph Strässer has never been one to do things by halves. I therefore understand his wish to focus more on his work in the German Bundestag and his home town of Münster in future.
For Christoph Strässer, the humanitarian impulse is paramount. He has always stood fast in its defence. Christoph Strässer lent the endeavour to protect human rights a committed voice that was heard well beyond Germany’s borders. His great dedication to human rights and humanitarian aid, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes, has resulted in protection and relief in many individual cases.
I wish Christoph Strässer all the best and am glad to know that he will continue to give me and the Federal Foreign Office the benefit of his advice and support.
In Italia, in 2015, there were about 12,000 unaccompanied foreign minors. Representing an increase of 1,385 units compared to 2014, when they were 10,536 were, ...
In 2015 the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has registered 2,447 asylum applications. A significantly increased from the 1,091 applications submitted in 2014. According to a ...Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin on 21 February:
Following intensive consultations in Geneva, I am pleased that today we have come closer to a fundamental agreement between the United States and Russia on a ceasefire in Syria. This is what was agreed in Munich.
Nothing concrete has been achieved yet, and the fighting and dying are still continuing in Syria, so it is now all the more vital that the regional powers also exert their influence on the belligerent parties in Syria in order to make use of the window of opportunity that is now open. This will not be easy, and it can only be achieved if all sides adhere to what was agreed in Munich. We are continuing to work hard on these endeavours.
At the same time, we must do everything we can to ensure further humanitarian progress and continuation of the groundwork for restarting the political process. Only if there is progress on implementing all three elements agreed in Munich – reducing violence, humanitarian progress and the political process – will it be possible to find a way out of the maelstrom of this terrible civil war in Syria.
In Italy, the requirements that immigrants must have to apply for a loan, are not very different from those of the natives. Of course, they ...
By 2050 the number of Muslims living in Europe will double. From 4% registered today to more than 8%. On the contrary, by the same ...
The judges for the World Press Photo Contest have awarded the organization’s top prize for 2015 to a moody black-and-white image depicting the hardship of ...A Federal Foreign Office spokesperson issued the following statement today (19 February) in response to the conviction of Maldivian opposition leader Sheikh Imran:
The German Government is concerned at the ruling against Maldivian opposition politician Sheikh Imran, leader of the Adhaalath Party. Sheikh Imran has been sentenced to twelve years in prison after a trial that did not meet the minimum legal standards. This raises questions about the extent to which freedom of opinion and the rule of law prevail in Maldives and about the health of the country’s democracy.
The German Government calls on the Maldivian Government to engage in open and comprehensive dialogue with the opposition. Our hope for the future resides in the upholding of the standards of the rule of law. Alongside our partners in the EU, we stand ready to accompany Maldives as it develops its democracy and rule of law.
Background information:
Sheikh Imran, leader of the Adhaalath Party, has been sentenced to twelve years in prison. He was claimed to have caused disturbances, violated the law governing public assemblies and committed an act of terrorism by inciting violence during a speech he gave at a demonstration. The trial is one of several including proceedings against former President Mohamed Nasheed and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim.
Speaking to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) on Friday (19 February), Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement on the latest developments in Syria:
Wednesday’s aid deliveries to five of the seven besieged cities we agreed on in Munich mark a first small step. They brought 120,000 people their first food and medicines in many weeks. And that’s good, even though it is far from enough.
We have pledged also to support the UN with the airlift planned sometime in the next few days for the city of Deir ez‑Zor, which is besieged by ISIS.
This shows that the joint pressure exerted on the parties to the conflict by the actors who gathered in Munich can have an impact in Syria, if everyone pulls in the same direction.
At today’s meeting of the Task Force in Geneva, we need at last to make concrete progress towards ending the fighting. It is good that for the first time there is direct coordination, including on military issues, between the US and Russia.
I hope that this will enable us at least to agree as a first step on measures to protect the civilian population, so that the bombing of hospitals, schools and refugee camps stops, and the violence can be significantly reduced in all areas not controlled by ISIS and al‑Nusra, even if this is unlikely to happen as fast as we would want.
Then the way would be clear for the continuation of the peace talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition which started in Geneva.
Dear Dieter Kosslick,
Dear Michael Ballhaus,
Dear Tom Tykwer,
Dear Monika Grütters,
Why is the Foreign Minister on stage at the Berlin International Film Festival? It's simple: For three minutes, he will travel back in time to when he was the young student Frank Steinmeier.
Dear Michael,
I was about 20 years old. With a few bottles of beer, and preoccupied by worries about the world and self-doubt, some long-haired friends of mine and I took our seats in a small, dark cinema in north Hesse. And then we watched The Marriage of Maria Braun. With the wonderful Hanna Schygulla. The story was driven by the poetic force of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and it was observed, or better accompanied and led, by your cinematography.
Back then, your film opened our eyes to our own country. To look on war, which destroys people and dreams, and to look on stodgy post-war Germany, with an asphyxiating society from which we wanted to escape.
Since then, I have watched every single one of your films. They showed me a world that I would not have seen without you.
One thing you said is deeply etched in my mind:
“Between the main characters, something magical must happen. Should we do a half circle around them? Why not all the way around, then!” – That’s how you invented the 360-degree tracking shot.
And isn't that what we all should do: not be satisfied with only half a perspective! We should open our eyes wide and expand our field of vision, trying to gain a better understanding of our counterparts, and of the world.
That also applies to foreign policy. If we want to understand anything in this world, we need a 360-degree tracking shot: travel once all the way around what is happening, also getting a view from the other side.
But there is one difference: Between main characters in politics, something magical happens only very rarely – and the action always lasts longer than 90 minutes!
As a diplomat, it was all the more important for me to speak here today, Michael – to say thank you. For your films. For the fact that your art has remained political. Because it shows us life. Because it makes us open our eyes and assume responsibility for, and in, the society in which we live.
Dear Michael: I am sure you will agree when I include Dieter Kosslick in my words of thanks. Because it is his festival – it is the Berlin International Film Festival that opens our eyes, our hearts and our minds for films just like yours.
I congratulate the festival on selecting Michael for this honour – and, dear Michael, I congratulate you wholeheartedly and with full conviction on receiving the Honorary Golden Bear!
Foreign Minister Steinmeier, who is this year OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, issued the following statement today (18 February) on the decision to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine:
I am glad that we have today succeeded in extending the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) by a further year, to the end of March 2017. We also adopted a new budget for the mission, which totals almost 100 million euros. We have thereby ensured that the SMM can continue to perform and enlarge its important role in stabilising the ceasefire in implementation of the Minsk accords.
Nearly 700 monitors from 46 OSCE participating States work day by day to give us objective data on compliance with the ceasefire and on the withdrawal of weapons in eastern Ukraine. Unfortunately, they have reported that the ceasefire remains fragile and that the Mission still does not have full access to the entire conflict zone. If we want to make headway on implementing the Minsk agreements, progress must finally be made on these points. All sides are called upon to comply strictly with the ceasefire and to finally grant the SMM unhindered access to the entire conflict area – with no exceptions!
I would like to thank Ambassador Apakan, the head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and all members of the Mission for their tireless work, often performed under dangerous conditions. I would also like to thank all those who support the SMM by providing personnel, technical equipment and funding. Without them all, we would not be where we are today with respect to implementing the Minsk agreements.
On 17 February Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented as follows on the explosion in Ankara which claimed many lives and which is being treated by the media as a terrorist attack:
I am shocked by the news that another explosion in Turkey has killed so many people. We do not yet know all the facts. But if media reports calling it a terrorist attack are confirmed, the blast would indeed constitute a further cowardly act of violence in Turkey. My heartfelt sympathy goes to the families of the victims. We wish the many injured a speedy recovery.
79% of EU citizens want a fair distribution of asylum seekers across all countries of the EU. The opinion of Europeans on the management of ...
The number of politicians of foreign origin in each European country's parliament depends largely on the immigration history each nation. In Spain, immigrants make up ...
The United Nations World Food Programme launched a new system at Jordan's King Abdullah Park refugee camp that uses iris scans to confirm the identities of ...Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave the following statement on 16 February on the death of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the United Nations:
With the death of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, we have lost a diplomat and politician who was held in great esteem worldwide and whose role in shaping the United Nations and preparing it to meet new tasks and requirements was unparalleled during his term as Secretary-General. His name will always be linked with his report “An Agenda for Peace” (1992), which influenced thinking on a new international order following the end of the Cold War.
However, Boutros Boutros-Ghali did not confine himself to theoretical notions. He fought for his beliefs, also standing up to resistance where necessary. In creating the Department of Political Affairs in the Secretariat of the United Nations in New York, he placed the United Nations’ work on behalf of peace and security on a new institutional basis. Since then, mediation and conflict prevention have become standard tools in the United Nations’ toolbox. Boutros Boutros-Ghali leaves behind a great legacy.
Commissioner Stylianides, my dear friend Christos,
My dear friend Jean-Marc,
Director‑General Chan,
Distinguished colleagues,
I’m delighted to be here today on a good, on a very special occasion.
When the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states came together not so long ago, in October 2014, we found ourselves in the midst of the most difficult global health crisis in recent history.
Thousands of people had been infected with the Ebola virus in western Africa. In Europe and in the US, too, the first cases had been reported.
We reacted, but we had to admit that we were too late. Too late at least for the more than 11,000 men, women and children who have fallen victim to this scourge.
One thing was clear to all of us: we cannot allow another health crisis to find us as underprepared. We cannot bring the victims back to life. However, we can prevent such a disaster from recurring because it takes us months to act.
The Ebola crisis highlighted how important it is to be prepared, to maintain the the right capacities and to act quickly and in collaboration with each other.
National measures alone are not enough. Rather, we’ve learned that we can only really be effective in a serious crisis situation if we use our instruments systematically and cooperate.
For that we need coordination. We need joint engagement.
That’s why my then French counterpart and I proposed the establishment of a European unit with specific medical expertise. We called them White Helmets back then: a pool of medical and logistical experts who undertake preparations, form a network and are ready at any time to counter dangerous epidemics at an early stage with a view to nipping them in the bud and saving lives.
I’m very pleased that this idea has now been put into practice in the form of the European Medical Corps. I’d like to thank everyone involved in this.
The European Medical Corps is an instrument which pools our capabilities so that we can react to epidemics in a coordinated manner – quickly and effectively.
Germany is mainly contributing in three spheres:
– The German Red Cross is establishing an isolation hospital to treat highly infectious patients.
– The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine is providing a mobile laboratory in which highly infectious pathogens can be identified on the ground.
– The Federal Agency for Technical Relief is providing support in the technical and logistical sphere. It makes it possible to quickly construct camps and ensures, for example, that there is electricity and a water supply.
Our European initiative is embedded in the WHO’s crisis response mechanisms, especially the Global Health Emergency Workforce. We want to strengthen the WHO as the central and coordinating institution in health crises.
Together we are effective. I’m therefore pleased that France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Czech Republic are all contributing to the European pool. I call on other member states to also offer their expertise to this key instrument.
The European Medical Corps signals solidarity within the EU. However, it’s also an expression of our shared political responsibility in the world.
To me, It also shows something else: it underscores the EU’s effectiveness, especially in complex crisis situations. It shows that we’re able to continuously adapt and improve our instruments in order to be able to act on a global scale. That inspires hope.
Thank you very much.
A hotline has been made available to answer questions from parents worried that their child might join an Islamic extremist group. The initiative has been ...
Educate Against Hate is a new website which aims to educate Muslim teenagers against groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The ...Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin today (16 February) on the situation in Syria:
Certainly now after yesterday’s attacks on hospitals and schools, we know there is no alternative to the Munich commitments.
With the many lives lost in hospitals and schools, the civil war in Syria has sadly reached another low point.
Should this continue, our efforts to improve access for humanitarian assistance and prepare a cessation of hostilities between the regime forces and the opposition are going to be called into question.
My clear expectation is that Moscow and Ankara take the Munich commitments as their guide in all military and political action and that, in the run-up to final agreements on a cessation of hostilities, there is a tangible reduction in military activities.
Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement today (15 February) on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels:
We are working to ensure that the ceasefire task force creates the conditions for a cessation of hostilities in Syria this week. As part of the Munich commitments, however, all sides are also called upon to scale back the violence immediately, even before a ceasefire commences. This applies to the military operations being conducted by Russia and the Syrian regime in the Aleppo area and the latest attacks by PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party) militias in northern Syria. In view of the tense situation, Turkey needs to show restraint as well.
Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement today (15 February) on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels:
We are working to ensure that the ceasefire task force creates the conditions for a cessation of hostilities in Syria this week. As part of the Munich commitments, however, all sides are also called upon to scale back the violence immediately, even before a ceasefire commences. This applies to the military operations being conducted by Russia and the Syrian regime in the Aleppo area and the latest attacks by PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party) militias in northern Syria. In view of the tense situation, Turkey needs to show restraint as well.
Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement after the Foreign Ministers meeting on the situation in Libya on 13 February:
Libya is rarely the focus of media attention here – unjustly, in my view. What is happening on the other side of the Mediterranean just a few hundred kilometres south of Italy cannot be a matter of indifference to us in Germany and Europe. It cannot be a matter of indifference to us if unscrupulous human trafficking rings are left to go about their criminal business in the midst of chaos and civil war. And it certainly cannot be a matter of indifference to us if the ISIS terrorist militias gain a firm foothold on Europe’s fringes.
All of us here agreed that implementing the peace agreement and quickly forming a government of national unity will be decisive for stabilising Libya and thus also for the fight against ISIS.
UN Special Representative Martin Kobler reported to us on the latest state of affairs. There has been some progress in the two months since the peace agreement was signed. The parliament has approved the peace agreement in principle.
We very much hope that the Presidential Council will be able to submit a new cabinet list for the government of national unity for parliament’s approval soon.
It is good that we have been able to discuss this with President of parliament Agila today, and to make the international community’s expectations clear once again.
Our message is this: the time for manoeuvrings is over! This is the time to show responsibility for Libya. Because Libya cannot wait any longer to finally tackle the pressing problems of ISIS terrorism and violence.
All sides must help ensure that the government of national unity can take up work as soon as possible and embark on the difficult job of restoring state order in Libya, driving out the ISIS terrorists and enabling the people once again to live in peace and stability.
Germany, Europe and the international community are prepared to offer every possible assistance to support the Libyan government of national unity in these endeavours. This includes the development of state structures and the training of security forces.
Speaking in Munich on Saturday morning following the Normandy Format meeting with France, Russia and Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Frank‑Walter Steinmeier said:
Almost exactly a year ago today, facing the threat of an open military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, we agreed in Minsk on a road map for a political settlement in eastern Ukraine.
Some things have calmed down since then; the fighting has become less intense. But we are still a long way from implementing the agreements reached in Minsk.
The outstanding issues are easy to state, but they remain hard to resolve, as became clear again at our meeting here in Munich today.
That is why we agreed today that, prior to our next meeting, the Contact Group and the OSCE will submit concrete proposals on how to improve adherence to the ceasefire, prepare for the local elections in eastern Ukraine and ensure security at the elections.
I trust that all those in positions of responsibility in Kyiv and Moscow are clear that we no longer have forever to implement the agreements reached in Minsk.
We simply cannot slacken our efforts to urge the parties to the conflict to take further steps. In this context Minsk remains the road map and the line of approach.
