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| Auswärtiges Amt; German Foreign Office | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 4 2017, 10:50 PM (95 Views) | |
| Bobithy | Nov 4 2017, 10:50 PM Post #1 |
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Great Leader of the Korean People
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![]() President of the Federal Republic of Germany:: Frank-Walter Steinmeier Federal Chancellor:: Angela Merkel Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs:: Martin Schulz Minister of State for Europe:: Michael Roth Minister of State:: Maria Böhmer Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development:: Dr. Gerd Müller State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development:: Hans-Joachim Fuchtel State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development:: Thomas Silberhorn State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development:: Dr. Friedrich Kitschelt Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN:: Christoph Heusgen Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN:: Jürgen Schulz Permanent Representative of Germany to the EU:: Reinhard Silberberg Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the EU:: Dr. Guido Peruzzo Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO:: Hans-Dieter Lucas __________________________________________________________________________ HISTORY: The name "Auswärtiges Amt" dates back to the eponymous institution of the North German Confederation in 1879 and the German Empire from 1871. The German Foreign Ministry has been known under that name to this day. During Bismarck’s time, the Auswärtiges Amt had only two directorates: the Political Directorate and a second Directorate responsible for foreign trade and other issues as well as legal and consular affairs. During the Weimar Republic, the Foreign Service was reorganised and took on a modern structure. During the National Socialist dictatorship, the Auswärtiges Amt was part of the apparatus of dictatorship, while a few diplomats, such as Ulrich von Hassell and Adam von Trott zu Solz, joined the resistance and paid for it with their lives. The involvement of the Auswärtiges Amt in the crimes of the “Third Reich” and its subsequent handling of this past were investigated by an Independent commission of historians, which published its report in October 2010. After the Second World War, the Auswärtiges Amt was re-established on 15 March 1951, with its headquarters in Bonn. In the following decades, the Federal Republic of Germany and its Foreign Service were systematically and successfully integrated into the democratic West and its international organisations. In 1999, as part of the German Federal Government’s relocation to Berlin, the Federal Foreign Office returned to its original home, at the heart of the German capital. THE ROLE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE: The Federal Foreign Office represents Germany’s interests to the world. It promotes international exchange and offers protection and assistance to Germans abroad. With its offices in Berlin and Bonn and a network of around 230 missions abroad, the Federal Foreign Office maintains Germany’s relations with other countries as well as with international and supra-national organisations. This work concerns much more than just political contacts among governments and parliaments. Because Germany and German society are enmeshed in ever-growing international networks, the Federal Foreign Office promotes intensive interaction and exchange with the world in the fields of business, culture, science and technology, the environment, development issues and many more areas. Shaping globalisation is one of the most important tasks of diplomacy. In this area, the Federal Foreign Office works closely with partners from civil society, including business associations, unions and humanitarian and human rights organisations. Through its embassies and consulates-general, it also communicates with the public abroad in order to convey a positive, up-to-date image of Germany. We are supported in this pursuit by Honorary Consuls, volunteers who work on the ground in host countries. Today, many of the world’s challenges can no longer be met by individual countries and must instead be tackled in concert with numerous international partners. Such challenges include regional conflicts, terrorist threats, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the violation of human rights. Germany’s participation in international bodies is therefore becoming ever more important. Germany has already served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council five times and is once again seeking a non-permanent seat for the 2019-2020 term. In this role, Germany takes responsibility for the world’s peace and security. It also advocates further strengthening the European Union. Here, too, the Federal Foreign Office coordinates German interests and formulates positions on various topics to develop a unified German foreign and security policy. Along with its role in shaping foreign policy, the Federal Foreign Office also views itself as a service provider – for citizens, German businesses and German cultural life as well as for MPs and government representatives at the federal, Länder and local levels. Consular assistance provided by Germany’s missions abroad is especially important for Germans abroad. Some 40 million German tourists and four million German expatriates per year present our embassies and consulates with new challenges on a daily basis: as providers of emergency assistance, as information sources and as contact points for all kinds of administrative services. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:22 AM.
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| Bobithy | Nov 5 2017, 10:35 AM Post #2 |
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Great Leader of the Korean People
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National Profiles: The German Foreign Office maintains a network of 229 diplomatic missions abroad and holds relations with more than 190 countries. As one of the world's leading industrialized countries it is recognized as a major power in European and global affairs. Below are summarized versions of Germany's current relations, in alphabetical order: Part 1: Federative Republic of Brazil Overview: Brazil has an embassy in Berlin and consulates in Frankfurt and Munich, and Germany has an embassy in Brasília and consulates in Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Bilateral relations between the two countries date back to 1824, when German settlers established in Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In 1825 Prussia recognized Brazilian independence, and in 1826 the Brazilian Consulate was established in Hamburg. In 2015, Prime Minister Angela Merkel visited Brazil with an entourage of seven ministers and five State secretaries to begin a "intergovernamental consultance" process between both countries. Germany keeps this relationship with other eight nations (France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Israel, Russia, China and India). Canada Overview: Bilateral relations are harmonious. Canada is an important North American friend and ally and is receptive to European and German interests owing to its history and national identity. Canada and Germany share common values and basic convictions. Germany and Canada are linked by their active involvement in international bodies and organisations, especially on issues of security and disarmament, human rights, humanitarian activities and peacekeeping operations. It is in Germany’s interest for Canada to maintain its strong commitment to Europe as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The good relations between the two countries are reflected in the close cooperation between their foreign ministries, which often pursue parallel initiatives, for example the Ottawa Convention prohibiting anti-personnel mines, the small arms control and non-proliferation initiative, efforts to combat child abuse, the establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, cooperation on the drafting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was signed by more than 100 countries, and standing together on the issue of Iran. Official visits between the two countries are frequent. Then Federal President Joachim Gauck visited Canada in September 2014, the first such visit in 24 years. In February 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a bilateral visit to Germany, accompanied by his Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who attended the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bonn. During her stay in Germany, Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland also took part in the Munich Security Conference along with Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Germany in March 2014. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to Ottawa on 9 February 2015, holding talks with Prime Minister Harper on the agenda for Germany’s G7 Presidency. She had previously paid a bilateral visit to Canada in August 2012. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and his Canadian counterpart Freeland are in regular contact. Further members of the Canadian Government have also visited Germany. Nearly 3.2 million of the 35.1 million Canadians have German roots. German immigration to Canada began some 300 years ago. The partition of Germany, the Berlin blockade and the division of Europe by the Iron Curtain during the Cold War forged strong ties between Europe and North America. In the defence of shared values, Canada has demonstrated its solidarity with the Federal Republic of Germany. Up to 1993, a total of more than 300,000 members of the Canadian armed forces served at bases in Germany. Economic Relations: After a temporary stagnation in bilateral trade relations during the global economic and financial crisis, there is now evidence of a tentative recovery. Overall, though, they lag behind the two countries’ economic potential. Canada’s large natural resource reserves have so far played only a minor role in supplying Germany’s raw material and energy needs but they are of growing interest to the German market, not least because of Canada's political stability. Bilateral economic relations are untroubled. In 2016 German exports to Canada were worth 9.5 billion euros, compared with 9.9 billion euros in 2015. During the same period, German imports from Canada were worth 4.1 billion euros, compared with 4.0 billion euros in 2015. According to German foreign trade statistics, Canada ranks 25th among buyers of German exports and 37th as a supplier of German imports. By contrast, Germany is the fourth largest supplier of Canada’s imports and the seventh largest export destination for Canadian goods. Germany’s main exports to Canada are motor vehicles and vehicle parts and machinery. Its primary imports from Canada are raw materials. In addition, the two countries supply each other with data processing equipment, electrical and optical goods, and chemical products. Canada and Germany concluded a double taxation agreement in 2002, superseding the agreement of 1981. The Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation has been in force between the European Union and Canada since 1976, the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation since 1996, the Agreement on Trade in Wines and Spirit Drinks since 2003 and the Agreement on Air Transport since 2009. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and its member states and Canada was signed in Brussels on 30 October 2016. Key sections of the agreement are expected to enter into force provisionally in summer 2017. CETA can only enter into force fully (even those sections relating solely to national competencies) when all member states have ratified the agreement. Peoples Republic of China Overview: The Federal Republic of Germany and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1972. Over the past more than 40 years, these relations have become extremely wide-ranging, remarkably close and of growing political substance. Like all other EU partners, Germany adheres to a one-China policy. China is Germany’s most important economic partner in Asia and Germany is China’s leading trading partner in Europe. Given the growing uncertainties in the world and the repercussions of the global economic and financial crisis which are still being felt, cooperation and coordination of policy between the two strategic partners Germany and China is becoming increasingly important. China views Germany both economically and politically as its key partner in Europe. Important elements of bilateral relations are regular high-level coordination of policy, dynamic trade relations, investment, environmental cooperation and cooperation in the cultural and scientific sectors. Since 2004, Sino-German relations have therefore been described as a “strategic partnership in global responsibility”. Relations were upgraded to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” during President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Germany at the end of March 2014. Regular intergovernmental consultations have been held since 2011, most recently in June 2016. These are attended by the two Cabinets and presided over by the two heads of government. In addition, there are a total of more than 60 dialogue mechanisms in place, many of them at senior government level: between line ministers, state secretaries and the heads of government authorities. Important new formats for coordinating policy are the strategic dialogues on foreign and security policy between the two countries’ foreign ministers and the high-level dialogue on financial policy between the two finance ministers and central bank heads. Although bilateral relations are developing positively overall, fundamental differences remain over human rights, especially individual freedoms. Germany remains keen to see China continue to make progress on the domestic front, in developing the rule of law and social systems, in increasing political and economic justice, and above all in allowing fundamental personal rights and peacefully resolving minority issues. An important cooperation instrument to promote the rule of law in China is the rule of law dialogue. Equally important is the annual bilateral human rights dialogue. Rule of Law Dialogue and Human Rights Dialogue: Sino-German dialogue on the rule of law dates back to the agreement reached in November 1999 by then Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and then Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. It is designed to offer a long-term approach to developing the rule of law and implementing human rights in China. The rule of law dialogue is coordinated on the German side by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJV), and on the Chinese side by the State Council’s Legislative Affairs Office (LAO). A symposium is held once a year at which German and Chinese government representatives and experts debate a topical legal issue. The most recent Sino-German Rule of Law Symposium was held in July 2016 in Germany and was presided over by Federal Minister of Justice Maas and Minister Song Dahan of the State Council’s Legislative Affairs Office. The subject of the symposium was Regulation Systems and Mechanisms to Protect Consumer Rights in the Internet Age. The insights and ideas gained from this dialogue have had an impact on the development of legal norms in China, thus also supporting the Chinese government’s efforts to enforce legal norms in specific areas. The most recent dialogue on human rights was held from 6 to 9 November 2016 in Berlin and Traunstein. The talks focused on implementing the rule of law (in particular access to lawyers and their rights), restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press, the use of torture and the human rights situation in Tibet, including individual cases. Economic Relations: With bilateral trade worth 169.9 billion euros, China surpassed France (167.2 billion euros) and the United States (164.7 billion euros) in 2016 to become Germany’s most important trading partner. German exports to China stabilised again in 2016 after experiencing a moderate decline the previous year. According to Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) figures, German exports to China increased by around 6.95 percent, to 76.1 billion euros, compared with 2015, while German imports from China in the same period grew by 2.5 percent to more than 93.8 billion euros. The transformation of China’s previously export-driven economy into one geared to sustainable, innovation-driven growth and the strengthening of domestic consumption offers great opportunities for German business. In January 2014, China opened in Berlin its first European chamber of commerce with a view to further promoting economic relations and investment. In 2015, China was also the official partner country at the CeBIT technology trade fair, at which numerous Chinese companies were represented. China is the fourth biggest buyer of German exports, after France, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the principal market for German machinery worldwide. China is the biggest buyer of German motor vehicles, after the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2016, the Volkswagen Group alone sold 3.98 million vehicles in China. In no other country are more German vehicle parts sold. In 2015, German exports of electronic goods to China amounted to 10.4 billion euros, while in the same year sales of machinery totalled 16.3 billion euros and exports of motor vehicles/land vehicles were worth 17.7 billion euros. German exports of food and semi-luxury goods to China (meat, dairy products and beverages) increased in 2015 to approximately 1.1 billion euros. China thus remains one of the most important overseas markets for products of the German food and agriculture industry. Democratic Republic of the Congo Overview: Germany established diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 30 June 1960, immediately after the country gained independence. Since the end of the Congo wars in 2002 and the beginning of the transition phase (2002-2006), Germany has, together with its European partners and the international community, been making an important contribution to the country’s political and economic reconstruction process. In the current political crisis, the German Government is promoting an inclusive implementation of the political transition agreement of 31 December 2016 and a peaceful political transition in the interests of preventing renewed destabilisation in the country and the region. The Federal Armed Forces helped to secure the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections and provided some 800 soldiers, roughly half of the European Union force (Operation EUFOR RD Congo). Germany also contributed to the command of the operation. President Joseph Kabila visited Germany twice, in 2002 and 2004. High-level German visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in recent years include then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Kinshasa and Goma in February 2015 and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Müller’s visit to Kinshasa in March 2015. The then Congolese Foreign Minister Raymond Tshibanda paid a visit to Berlin in January 2016. There are frequent contacts between the two countries at the Länder and local government level as well as in the humanitarian and religious fields through informal channels. Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid: Germany is an important development partner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the intergovernmental negotiations held in Berlin in 2015, the German Government pledged the DR Congo Government 153.4 million euros for bilateral development cooperation in 2016-17. The next round of negotiations on development cooperation was planned for 2017, but has been postponed indefinitely because of the delaying of elections and human rights violations committed during the political crisis. Germany’s development cooperation portfolio focuses on improving the living conditions of the DR Congo’s population and protecting global public goods (particularly peace, biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation). Germany provides substantial humanitarian and development-oriented structural and transitional assistance, as well as support for conflict management, crisis prevention and peacekeeping. Economic Relations: Economic relations between Germany and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are modest. The volume of bilateral trade in goods between the two countries again declined markedly in 2016. In the period from January to November 2016, Germany exported goods worth only 83.9 million euros to the DR Congo (mainly motor vehicles, machinery and electronic goods). German imports from the DR Congo totalled 106.4 million euros during the same period. There are only a handful of German companies active in the country. A bilateral investment protection and promotion agreement has been in force since 1969. Arab Republic of Egypt Overview: Germany and Egypt have long maintained close and diverse relations. Germany is continuing its efforts to help Egypt build a modern, democratic state. The Federal Government is watching the human rights situation in Egypt closely, with the overall policy aim being to maintain long-term stability. The convening of Egypt’s newly elected parliament in January 2016 marked the end of a period of political transition. Prior to this, a new constitution had been adopted in January 2014 and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi had been elected President in May 2014. Transformation Partnership: Launched in August 2011, Germany’s Transformation Partnership with Egypt has laid the groundwork for modernising Egyptian society and bringing about democratic change in the country. Project-based efforts in Egypt focus on helping to establish the rule of law and good governance, as well as on promoting political inclusion, employment, a dual system of vocational training, civil society and professional media. To this end, on 12 August 2011, the two countries’ foreign ministers signed the Berlin Declaration on German support for democratic change in the country. Economic Relations and Developmental Cooperation: Germany and Egypt enjoy close economic relations, especially in the area of trade. In 2015, bilateral trade grew by approximately 20 per cent compared with the previous year, to 5.2 billion euros. This growth is expected to continue in 2016, to a level of approx. 5.7 billion euros. The visit to Cairo by Federal Economic Affairs and Energy Minister Gabriel in April 2016, accompanied by a large business delegation, underscored Egypt’s importance for German trade and industry. Infrastructure projects in which German companies are involved – in the energy sector, for example – are developing positively. However, the import restrictions introduced on account of the shortage of foreign exchange are having a negative effect. The reform programme that has been negotiated with the International Monetary Fund is likely to help resolve these problems. Egypt’s economic and investment climate has developed positively since mid-2013 but is still not favourable, especially for small and medium-sized companies, because of the existence of a wide range of bureaucratic hurdles. Ministerial Decrees Nos. 911 and 43, for example, list products to which import restrictions apply and declare that products must in principle be imported by an Egyptian partner company. The difficult issue of currency control has improved somewhat since the Egyptian central bank floated the country’s currency on 3 November 2016. However, numerous restrictions on the transfer of funds remain in force. This move does, nonetheless, provide a sound basis for economic calculations, and the black market for currency trading has been practically closed down. Following the devaluation, the price of imports to Egypt has more than doubled (the value of the Egyptian pound has dropped sharply since last November, from 9 to approx. 17 pounds per euro). Due to current conditions, payment guarantees are generally recommended. That said, Egypt in principle remains a desirable trading partner and – with certain reservations concerning the public administration’s efficiency – an attractive destination for investment, particularly following the currency devaluation. Increasing trade with Egypt in goods and services and strengthening direct investment in the country depend on sustained political stability and improving the overall conditions for business (competition oversight, corporate taxation, investment protection, infrastructure measures and improving administrative efficiency). The Egyptian government’s economic policy currently focuses on extensive infrastructure projects (developing the Suez Canal Area, road and housing construction, increasing electricity production, land reclamation). Impetus is, however, also evident in the property sector, manufacturing and the food industry. With its unique cultural monuments that testify to its 5000-year-old history, and with its good weather, Egypt is a prime destination for beach holidays and cultural tours. Recently, however, there has been a marked decline in the number of foreign tourists, following the crashes of a Russian charter jet over the Sinai peninsula in October 2015 and that of an Egypt Air plane that was inbound from Paris in May 2016. Before this, the tourist sector had been hit hard by severe political unrest between 2011 and 2013, as well as by fighting in neighbouring countries. In the second half of 2016, there was again a slight increase in the number of tourists visiting the country. The Cairo-based German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which is mainly responsible for Egypt, was established 65 years ago and has more than 3,300 member companies. Germany Trade & Invest (gtai) also has an office in Cairo. The German companies operating in Egypt have commercial agents there and in some cases their own offices and production facilities. Egypt is a key country for German development policy. With a current portfolio of 1.7 billion euros, it is one of the largest partner countries of German development cooperation. Along with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the United States, France, the European Union and Japan, Germany is Egypt’s principal development cooperation partner. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Overview: Relations between Germany and Ethiopia have traditionally been good and are fostered through mutual high-level visits. The 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations was celebrated in 2005. The visit by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1954 was one of the first by a head of state to the young Federal Republic of Germany. Over the years, various Federal Presidents have visited Ethiopia (Lübke in 1964, Herzog in 1996, Köhler in 2004 and Gauck in 2013). Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Ethiopia in 2007 and in October 2016. Ethiopia’s former President Girma Woldegiorgis visited Germany in 2008, and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn visited Germany in December 2014. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel is travelling to Addis Ababa on 2 May 2017. There are regular visits to Ethiopia by German Cabinet members and Members and committees of the German Bundestag. Economic Relations: Recent years have seen steady growth in the volume of bilateral trade. According to Federal Statistical Office figures, in 2016 German imported from Ethiopia goods worth 176.7 million euros, an increase of 2 percent, and exported to there goods worth 349.7 million euros, an increase of 44.76 percent. Germany is one of the biggest buyers of Ethiopian goods. Ethiopia’s main exports to Germany are coffee and textiles, and until 2014 Germany was traditionally the biggest buyer of Ethiopian coffee, taking more than 30 percent of the country’s total coffee exports. The principal German exports to Ethiopia are finished products such as machinery, engines, motor vehicles, chemicals and medicines. German companies have recently begun to invest in Ethiopia, especially in the flower-growing and the leather-processing industries. An investment protection agreement was signed in January 2004 and entered into force in 2006. In March 2016, heavy vehicle manufacturer MAN opened a plant in Mekele. Development Cooperation: Ethiopia is a priority country of German development cooperation. Germany is helping Ethiopia to implement its national development strategy, the Growth and Transformation Plan, and to pursue its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since bilateral development cooperation began 50 years ago, Ethiopia has received a total of more than one billion euros under technical and financial cooperation. French Republic Overview: France is Germany’s closest and most important partner in Europe. With no other country are policies coordinated more extensively or regularly. Important milestones in the friendly relations between the two countries in recent decades include: - the Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation of 22 January 1963 (Élysée Treaty) signed by President Charles de Gaulle and Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on 22 January 1963 - the historic gesture by President François Mitterrand and Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who firmly held each other’s hands at the cemetery in Verdun in 1984 - Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel’s participation in the celebrations commemorating the end of the First World War, held at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on 11 November 2009 and in the commemorative events in June 2014 marking the 70th anniversary of the landing of Allied troops in Normandy - the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, held in Berlin on 22 January 2013, also coinciding with a joint Franco-German Ministerial Council meeting, the adoption of the Berlin Declaration by Federal Chancellor Merkel and President François Hollande and a joint session of the German Bundestag and the French National Assembly attended by both governments, President Hollande, Federal President Joachim Gauck, members of the German Bundesrat and the French Senate - the official visit to France by Federal President Gauck in September 2013, during which he was accompanied by President Hollande to Oradour-sur-Glane to commemorate a massacre of the civilian population committed there by the SS in 1943; the meeting there between the two presidents and survivors of the massacre was further striking testimony to the progress made in Franco-German reconciliation - the joint ceremony to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War, which was held at Hartmannswillerkopf in Alsace in August 2014 and attended by Federal President Gauck and President Hollande Cooperation is intensified by a civil society network of some 300 Franco-German societies, 22 regional partnerships and 2200 town twinning arrangements, some 4300 school partnerships and around 40 partnerships between German and French schools with bilingual sections. These have spawned unusually diverse and intensive forms of cooperation. Today, cooperation focuses on European policy and developing a joint stance on international security issues. Economic Relations: Germany and France remain important trading partners for one another, even though German trade with the United States slightly exceeds trade with France. In 2016, German trade with France (imports and exports) was worth a total of 167.1 billion euros. The flow of investments in both directions remains constantly high. The interest in bilateral economic exchange and cooperation is also evident from the large number of joint activities and networks. For example, France will be the guest of honour at the 2017 Frankfurter Buchmesse - Frankfurt Book Fair in October. Exchange between German and French companies was institutionalised in 1990 through the annual Franco-German Encounters in Evian. The Franco-German Renewable Energy Coordination Office, which was set up in 2006, was renamed the Franco-German Energy Transition Office in 2016. Defense Relations: Cooperation between Germany and France on security policy is very close. The joint Franco-German Brigade initially symbolised the two countries’ will to cooperate on military policy. It came to be regarded, with the Eurocorps, as the nucleus of European armed forces under the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). For decades now, mutual training has been provided at the schools, academies and universities of the German and French armed forces. Exchange officers do duty at defence ministry level, in command authorities and in many different units, making them an integral part of the partner country’s armed forces. The Federal Armed Forces are thus making an important and substantial contribution to strengthening Franco-German relations. Through joint operations, close cooperation between Germany and France is setting an example for the further development of a common European foreign and security policy. Republic of India Overview: After the Second World War, India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, India regards Germany as an important partner in its quest for a new political role in the region and the world, and above all for its ambitious economic reform programmes such as developing the country’s industrial sector. Relations here are based on the May 2000 Agenda for the Indo-German Partnership in the 21st Century, which has since been updated by further joint declarations. Continuing mutual visits have given relations considerable impetus. Of particular importance in this context are the Indo-German intergovernmental consultations, where the two countries’ Cabinets hold joint sessions every two years, alternately in Germany and India. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to New Delhi in May 2011 to attend the first round of consultations. In 2013, Germany hosted a similar meeting with the Indian side in Berlin. The third bilateral intergovernmental consultations were held in October 2015 in New Delhi. At the meeting, 18 bilateral agreements were concluded in sectors such as energy, business, vocational training, culture and research, security and agriculture. The Chancellor was accompanied by twelve federal ministers, ministers of state and state secretaries. The next consultations are scheduled to take place in Berlin at the end of May 2017. In April 2015, India’s Prime Minister Modi visited Germany to attend the Hanover Trade Fair, at which India was the Guest of Honour. In 2016, there were visits to Germany by India’s Railways Minister Prabhu, Urban Development Minister Naidu and Science and Technology Minister Vardhan. Federal Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt visited India in October 2016. Economic Relations: Germany is India’s most important trading partner in the EU and (in absolute figures) its sixth most important trading partner worldwide. Since India embarked on a course of reform and opened up its economy in 1991, the volume of trade between the two countries has increased very rapidly. Bilateral trade between India and Germany grew in 2015. German imports from India increased by seven percent compared with the previous year and German exports to India by ten percent. This trend seems to have continued in 2016. India ranks 25th overall among Germany’s trading partners, 28th in terms of imports and 27th in terms of exports. Conversely, Germany ranks eighth as a supplier of goods to and fifth as a buyer of goods from India. However, trade between Germany and India accounts for less than one percent of Germany’s total foreign trade. Germany’s continuing trade surplus of around 2.2 billion euros (2015) is due to the strong Indian demand for German goods, especially capital goods (machinery, which accounts for around a third of Germany’s total exports to India, electrical engineering products, metal goods, chemical products, motor vehicles and vehicle parts). Islamic Republic of Iran Overview:
Diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and Iran were established in 1952, and the Iranian legation opened in Germany that same year. In addition to economic ties, the two countries developed particularly close relations in the education sector. The numerous German vocational schools in Iran came to be regarded as valued educational partners. Still today, the reputation of these former schools contributes to Iran’s generally positive view of Germany. Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, relations between the two countries were severely strained in some areas and since 2003 have been shaped by worries about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear programme. The Vienna nuclear agreement of 14 July 2015 between the E3/EU+3 countries and Iran brought about a settlement of the nuclear dispute (for more information on the Iranian nuclear dossier, follow the link in the right-hand column). This has opened an opportunity for closer bilateral relations and for regular political consultations, including on regional issues. The German Government continues to follow the human rights situation in Iran with concern. Economic Relations: Economic relations between Germany and Iran have traditionally been close. Some 30 percent of Iran’s industrial infrastructure was produced in Germany. As a result of the international sanctions imposed on account of Iran’s nuclear programme, trade relations declined from 2007 and only began to pick up again in 2014. In 2015, bilateral trade was valued at 2.4 billion euros. The sharp rise in German exports is mainly due to higher exports of machinery, mechanical equipment and motor vehicles. German companies regained access to export credit guarantees, known as Hermes insurance, in June 2016. Following the lifting of European Union economic and financial sanctions on 16 January 2016, German business associations are optimistic about the prospects of bilateral trade continuing to grow. In 2016, trade between Germany and Iran increased 22 percent over the previous year to approx. 2.9 billion euros. German exports to Iran were worth 2.6 billion euros (a year-on-year increase of 26 percent), putting Iran in 50th place among Germany’s export destinations. German imports from Iran were valued at 314 million euros (a year-on-year decrease of 6 percent), giving Iran a ranking of 84th among countries of origin. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:29 AM.
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| Bobithy | Nov 5 2017, 10:36 AM Post #3 |
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Great Leader of the Korean People
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Part 2: State of Israel Overview: Germany has a special relationship with Israel owing to its responsibility for the Shoah, the systematic genocide of some six million European Jews during the National Socialist era. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 12 May 1965, German-Israeli relations have continued to grow deeper and closer in the official domain and at the level of civil society. Today, German-Israeli relations are close and friendly. The unique relations between Germany and Israel are a cornerstone of German foreign policy. Germany is a staunch supporter of Israel’s right to exist and, as an active partner in the EU, promotes peace efforts in the Middle East. In the United Nations, it seeks to strike a fair balance in dealings with the two sides to the conflict. In the European Union, Germany supports the active integration of Israel as part of the EU’s association policy. In international bodies, Germany combats all forms of antisemitism, racism and xenophobia. The institution of annual intergovernmental consultations between the two countries in 2008 opened up a new chapter in bilateral relations. The two countries’ Cabinets were meeting for the sixth time in February 2016. In addition, numerous official visits in both directions testify to the intensity and diversity of relations. In 2015, Germany and Israel celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations with a host of political and cultural events in both countries. Economic Relations: Germany remains Israel’s principal trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade worth USD 6.59 billion in 2016. Globally, Germany is Israel’s fourth most important partner, after China, the United States and Switzerland. Israel’s principal imports from Germany are motor vehicles chemical products, machinery and optical instruments as well as measurement and control technology and precision-engineering products. Products made in Germany enjoy an excellent reputation in Israel and German companies are well positioned when it comes to infrastructure projects. Israel’s exports to Germany (worth USD 1.52 billion in 2016) consist mainly of chemical products and electrical goods as well as precision-engineering and optical instruments. Israeli businesspeople value Germany’s significance as its strongest economic partner in the EU’s single market. Given Israel’s longer-term growth potential, the continuing growth of its high-tech industry, its high level of technical training and its pervading spirit of innovation, which has made the country the world’s second most important startup location after Silicon Valley, there are promising cooperation opportunities for German business there. Bilateral economic cooperation is regularly a key item on the agenda at the annual German-Israeli intergovernmental consultations, held most recently in February 2016 in Berlin. The focus is on stepping up cooperation, particularly in the area of energy efficiency, the transport sector and infrastructure projects. The Israeli-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and has been part of the German Chamber Network since 1995. It is affiliated to the German-Israeli Business Association (DIW) and is thus equally well networked in both countries. Bilateral economic exchange is given additional impetus through active cooperation in science and technology. Israel is an important destination for venture capital and modern technologies. Occupied Territories: The Arab-Israeli conflict has given rise to the following peculiarities: The Palestinian Territories (East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza) and the Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel since 1967. The Federal Government makes a strict distinction between the territory of the State of Israel and the occupied territories. The Israeli government distinguishes between the territories that are under Israeli jurisdiction (the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem which according to Israeli law are through annexation an integral part of Israel and under its full sovereignty), and the non-annexed territories (the West Bank and Gaza). Settlements: It is the long-standing position of the European Union and its member states not to recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders that have not been agreed upon by the parties to the conflict. The Federal Government also takes the view that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories represent a violation of international law, an obstacle to peace and a threat to the fundamentals of a two-state solution. There are therefore considerable risks associated with economic and financial activities in and for the benefit of settlements. Financial transactions, investment, purchasing and procurement as well as other economic activities (including tourism and other areas of the service sector) in or for the benefit of Israeli settlements give rise to legal and economic risks due to the fact that, from the point of view of international law, Israeli settlements have been built on occupied territory that is not recognised as a legitimate part of Israel’s national territory. German companies and private individuals should also be aware of the reputational risks associated with economic and financial activities in and for the benefit of settlements. The Federal Government further points to potential violations of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions in connection with settlements in the occupied territories. For reasons of consumer protection, products made in settlements are not allowed to bear the mark of origin "Israel" in the European Union. Compensation for National Socialist Injustice: Since the conclusion of the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement (payment of some EUR 1.53 billion), compensation has been a major political issue in relations between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany. German compensation payments amount to more than EUR 71 billion, including approximately EUR 27.7 billion to victims of National Socialist persecution now living in Israel. Some EUR 300 million is paid out annually in compensation pensions (largely under the Federal Compensation Act) and related payments to recipients in Israel. On top of this are compensation payments for social security and the equalisation of burdens. Following the establishment of the Remembrance, Responsibility and Future Foundation in 2000, compensation was also paid from its funds to former victims of forced labour. Israeli interests in compensation and restitution are represented by the Jewish Claims Conference (JCC). The JCC disburses one-off payments and monthly pensions to hardship cases who are not eligible for compensation under the Federal Compensation Act. Besides compensation payments to individuals, the JCC receives funding to provide medical and geriatric care to Jewish victims, which is to be substantially increased in the coming years (2014: EUR 142 million; 2015: EUR 205 million; 2016: EUR 210 million; 2017: EUR 215 million). In August 2014, the Federal Finance Ministry and the JCC agreed to set up a new joint fund as of 1 January 2015 that will provide for one-off payments for the psychological support of Holocaust survivors who became the victims of persecution during their youth. Italian Republic Overview: Political relations between Germany and Italy are close and built on an excellent foundation: commonalities in their historical development (Germany and Italy are both “young nations”), the two countries’ position today at the heart of Europe and their membership of NATO and of the European Union, the large volume of trade and the broad spectrum of contacts (including culture, tourism, sport, social groups, trade unions). Efforts by both governments to develop common positions on European policy focus on issues of fundamental importance, such as further strengthening the European Union, framing European migration policy or European neighbourhood policy, and EU enlargement. Government ministers and parliamentarians from both countries exchange views regularly and often meet at international conferences and European Council sessions. Close contacts are also maintained between the two countries’ heads of state. The Villa Vigoni Association on Lake Como is a forum specifically created to promote bilateral exchange, hosting numerous events on political, economic, cultural and scientific issues. Germany’s political foundations also play a major role in bilateral relations. Economic Relations: Economic relations between Germany and Italy have traditionally been very close. Germany is Italy’s most important trading partner by far, supplying 15.2 per cent of the country’s imports and taking 12.6 per cent of its exports in 2015. Conversely, Italy ranks fifth among importers of German goods and sixth as a supplier of goods to Germany. In 2015, total bilateral trade was worth more than EUR 107.7 billion, with a trade surplus of nearly EUR 5.8 billion in Germany’s favour. The main German exports to Italy in 2015 were vehicles and vehicle parts, followed by machinery, chemical products, electrical and optical goods. Italy’s principal exports to Germany in 2015 were machinery and equipment, followed by textile products (including garments, leather and accessories) and chemical, pharmaceutical and botanical products. According to German Federal Bank figures from 2015, German foreign direct investment in Italy amounted to approximately EUR 32 billion in 2013 and was concentrated in the north of the country. Conversely, Italian direct investment in Germany was worth approximately EUR 35 billion, again according to German Federal Bank figures. Security and Defense Relations: Alongside joint involvement in NATO, the European Union (as part of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations, bilateral relations between the two countries’ armed forces have traditionally been close, including regular talks between the two countries’ defence ministers and the top brass of the different branches of the military, permanent exchange and training programmes for troops and close cooperation as part of international NATO, EU and UN missions. There is also close cooperation on armaments production. State of Japan Overview: Germany and Japan have a tradition of friendly bilateral relations. Over the past decades, international cooperation between the two countries has intensified. In 2011, Germany and Japan celebrated the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As democratic countries based on the rule of law and members of the G7 and G20, Germany and Japan have shared values and are linked by wide-ranging political, economic and social ties. The two countries work together closely as partners assuming global responsibility – on issues relating to disarmament and non-proliferation as well as in Afghanistan or South Sudan and in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia. On reform of the United Nations Security Council, there is also close political coordination between Germany and Japan (along with Brazil and India) within the framework of the G4 group. Furthermore, economic, cultural and scientific and academic cooperation between the two economic powers offers considerable development potential. After China, Japan is Germany’s principal economic and trading partner in Asia. German parliamentarians make regular visits to Japan. By contrast, visits to Germany by Japanese politicians are limited by their strict obligation to attend the relatively long sessions of Parliament. Nevertheless, there have recently been numerous high-level visits in both directions: Japan’s Foreign Minister Kishida travelled to Germany for bilateral talks with Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier in September 2014 and to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2015; Japanese Prime Minister Abe was in Germany in May 2016 for talks with Federal Chancellor Merkel in preparation for the G7 Summit in Japan; Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier travelled to Tokyo in April 2014 and, after holding bilateral talks there, attended the 8th Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) Ministerial Meeting in Hiroshima. During her bilateral visit to Japan on 9 and 10 March 2015 prior to the G7 Summit in Germany, Federal Chancellor Merkel met with the Japanese Emperor, Prime Minister Abe and opposition leader Okada and held talks with researchers, Japanese female executives and German company representatives, among others. In 2016, Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Federal Chancellor Merkel the G7 Summit in Japan. In November 2016, Federal President Gauck visited Japan, meeting with the Japanese Emperor and Crown Prince Couple, Prime Minister Abe, opposition leader Renho and other politicians as well as researchers and German and Japanese company representatives. The principal multilateral forums for German cooperation with Japan are the United Nations, the G7 and G20 Groups and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summits. Japan is a partner country of the OSCE and NATO. In addition, the European Union is a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in which issues relating to security policy in Asia are discussed. The ongoing negotiations on both an EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement and a comprehensive political framework agreement are designed to further enhance the quality of the European Union’s strategic partnership with Japan based on shared values. Economic Relations: Following four consecutive years of steady growth in trade between Germany and Japan, bilateral trade declined slightly in 2014, to EUR 35.9 billion, from EUR 36.6 billion in 2013. In 2015, however, bilateral trade grew again, to EUR 37.2 billion. In 2015, Japanese imports from Germany were worth EUR17 billion, compared with EUR 16.9 billion in 2014. Japanese exports to Germany stood at EUR 20.2 billion in 2015, compared with EUR 19 billion in the previous year, an increase of 6.5 per cent. As a supplier of German imports, Japan ranked 15th among Germany’s foreign trading partners in 2015, and 19th as a buyer of German exports. Though Japan’s share of world trade, at 4 per cent, is less than that of Germany (7.1 per cent, as of 2014), it still ranks third worldwide. These comparatively low figures do not, however, properly reflect Japan’s importance for world trade and German industrial production, many German products being reliant on the supply of components from high-tech country Japan. These are practically irreplaceable because the more complex the primary products, the harder it is to find alternative suppliers. In some sectors, e.g. electronic control and memory modules, Japanese companies are world leaders. Korea, Republic of Overview Bilateral relations were placed on a formal footing with the signing of the German-Korean Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation on 26 November 1883. After the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953 and resulted in the country’s partition, close and trustful relations developed between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Korea. In the 1960s and 1970s, Germany played a significant role in laying the foundations for Korea’s economic miracle. South Korea has transformed itself from one of the world’s poorest countries in the 1950s to the world’s eleventh-largest economy today – and from a development aid recipient country to a donor country. Of particular importance for bilateral relations is the shared experience of national division. The experience Germany gained through its reunification process – rapprochement, the fall of the Wall and the ensuing reunification – gives Korean policymakers and academics valuable ideas for developing their own policy solutions. In 2011, as part of cooperation between the Korean Ministry of Unification and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, a high-level bilateral panel of experts meeting once a year was set up to strengthen and institutionalise exchange on the internal aspects of unification. During then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Korea in autumn 2014, another advisory body was set up to address in particular the foreign policy implications of reunification. Since 2012, representatives of civil society in Germany and Korea have been meeting to discuss current issues relating to bilateral relations as part of the German-Korean Forum. The Forum, which takes place alternately in Korea and Germany, is held in tandem with a bilateral youth forum at which participants discuss important topical issues from the point of view of young people and formulate recommendations. The 16th meeting of the German-Korean Forum was held in Fulda from 5 to 7 July 2017. Korea and Germany are bound together by shared concerns: strengthening effective multilateralism, creating a new global economic and financial system within the framework of the G20, participating in peacekeeping operations, upholding democratic and rule-of-law principles, safeguarding human rights, preventing climate change and ensuring the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. President Moon Jae-in visited Berlin and Hamburg from 5 to 8 July 2017, meeting with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, among others. Former Federal President Joachim Gauck paid a state visit to Korea from 10 to 14 October 2015. Economic Relations: Economic relations between the two countries are close. With its highly competitive economy and advanced technological capabilities, Korea is one of Germany’s main trading partners in East Asia. Korea, the world’s eleventh-largest economy and seventh-largest export nation, is the third most important market for German goods in Asia after the People’s Republic of China and just behind Japan – but ahead of India and other bigger countries. Germany remains by far South Korea’s most important European trading partner. According to Korean figures, bilateral trade in 2016 was worth approximately 25.4 billion US dollars, with a trade surplus of 12.5 billion US dollars in Germany’s favour. Germany is the third-largest European investor in South Korea, with actual foreign direct investment totalling approximately 10 billion US dollars (from 1962 to 2016). In 2016, German companies invested 188 million US dollars in South Korea. According to Korean figures, there are some 500 German companies or firms with German equity participation operating in the country, employing a local workforce of approximately 100,000. At the end of 2016, Korean aggregate foreign direct investment in Germany stood at 4.5 billion US dollars. It is concentrated in Hessen, especially in the Frankfurt am Main region. Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of Overview: Political relations between Germany and North Korea date back to the period immediately after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was founded on 9 September 1948. The former German Democratic Republic (GDR) maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea from 1949 onwards and was one of the country’s most important partners in the Eastern bloc. Following German reunification, a mission representing the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany was initially opened on the premises of the former GDR Embassy in Pyongyang, with Sweden acting as protecting power. At the same time, the former North Korean Embassy in East Berlin was turned into an Office for the Protection of the Interests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with the People’s Republic of China acting as protecting power. The Federal Republic of Germany and North Korea established diplomatic relations on 1 March 2001. Under the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy as well as in bilateral relations, Germany is trying to get North Korea to resume the six-party talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme. At the same time, Germany is endeavouring to induce North Korea to enter into dialogue with the international community on the human rights situation in the country. In the wake of North Korea’s fourth and fifth nuclear weapons tests in January and September 2016 and the several rocket launches in the course of 2016, the various sanctions adopted – in particular by the United Nations and the European Union – in response to North Korea’s nuclear policy are also having a tangible effect on bilateral relations. Tougher sanctions can be expected following the most recent nuclear weapons and rocket tests. Economic Relations and Development Cooperation: Germany is not engaged in bilateral development cooperation with North Korea. Humanitarian aid has played an important role in bilateral relations in recent years, but this was terminated by the North Korean government in 2006. Since then, assistance has continued in the form of development-oriented emergency and transitional aid under the umbrella of the EU. German Agro Action is one of the main humanitarian organisations active in North Korea. Bread for the World, Caritas and the German Red Cross have also conducted a number of German-funded projects. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, there have so far been no visits to North Korea by German government delegations at ministerial level or trips to Germany by North Korean government ministers (except for the visit by then Physical Culture and Sports Minister Pak Myong Chol, who travelled to Germany in June 2011 to attend the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup). However, there have been several official visits to North Korea by members of the German Bundestag. Trade between Germany and North Korea has fallen by nearly a half in just a few years. It now stands at a very low level: approximately EUR 11 million a year. Germany’s principal imports from North Korea are textiles. Its main exports to North Korea are pharmaceutical products. No bilateral agreements have yet been concluded on economic, financial or scientific and technological cooperation. Islamic Republic of Pakistan Overview: Germany is keen to see stable and democratic development in Pakistan and for the country to play a constructive role in the region. To mitigate the effects of the flood disaster in Pakistan in late summer 2014, the Federal Government has made available a total of more than 6 million euros. In 2015 and 2016, the total volume of federal budget funding for humanitarian aid projects in Pakistan exceeds 11 million euros. The relief measures are implemented by German non-governmental organisations and international organisations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency and the World Food Programme. Economic Relations: In the 2016 calendar year, Germany’s bilateral trade with Pakistan stood at 2.6 billion euros. German exports to Pakistan were worth 1.1 billion euros and German imports from Pakistan 1.5 billion euros. Pakistan’s principal exports to Germany are textiles, leather goods, sports goods, footwear and medical instruments. Pakistan’s main imports from Germany are machinery, chemical products, electrical goods, motor vehicles and iron goods. The number of German companies operating in Pakistan has increased in recent years. German businesses are showing growing interest in the Pakistani market, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. In 2016, German and Pakistani companies with an interest in bilateral economic relations joined forces to create the German Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), based in Karachi. The GPCCI also has a branch office in Lahore. The GPCCI replaces its forerunners, the Pakistan Germany Business Forum and German Pakistan Trade and Invest. The GPCCI’s stated aim is to acquire the status of a bilateral chamber of commerce in the medium term. At present, it is a corporation according to Pakistani law under the umbrella of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In 2014, an organisation to promote bilateral economic relations was set up in Germany: GATE Pakistan. The visit to Germany by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in November 2014 gave additional impetus to cooperation. There are regular mutual visits by delegations of entrepreneurs. In 2016, for example, the trip to Berlin and Munich by a delegation headed by the Sindh Board of Investment and the visit to Islamabad and Lahore by a German business delegation headed by State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office Steinlein have boosted public interest here. The number of Pakistani companies participating in industrial fairs in Germany is constantly growing. Republic of Namibia Overview: Since Namibia gained independence in 1990, particularly intensive bilateral relations have developed between the two countries. A milestone in German policy on Namibia was the German Bundestag’s 1989 resolution that underlined Germany’s historical and political responsibility towards Namibia. In another resolution dating from 2004, the German Bundestag remembered the victims of the colonial war (1904-1907/8) and reaffirmed its intention to strengthen Germany’s good bilateral relations with Namibia. In 2007 the Speaker of Namibia’s National Assembly, Gurirab, visited Berlin and in 2008 German Bundestag President Lammert travelled to Namibia. Relations between the two countries’ parliaments have been further strengthened by the establishment of a Namibian-German Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Namibian parliament, which visited Berlin for the first time in March 2013. The German Bundestag also fosters relations with the Namibian parliament through the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the SADC States. The special relationship between Germany and Namibia is also reflected in the numerous other high-level political contacts at government level. High points were the visits to Namibia by Chancellor Kohl in 1994 and Federal President Herzog in 1998 and the visits to Germany by Namibian Presidents Nujoma in 1996 and 2002 and Pohamba in 2005. Former Federal President Köhler represented Germany at the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Namibia’s independence and the inauguration of the new Namibian President Geingob in 2015. Then Federal Foreign Minister Fischer visited Namibia in 2003. In January 2013, Namibian Foreign Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah made her first official visit to Berlin, holding talks with then Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle and the Federal Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. She visited Berlin again in June 2014, meeting with Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier. In 2004, then Federal Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Wieczorek-Zeul attended the main ceremonies commemorating the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the horrendous colonial war in Namibia. Her successor in office, Niebel, visited Namibia in 2010, 2011 and 2013. In April 2012, then Federal Minister of Education and Research Schavan was in Windhoek for the signing of a declaration to establish the Southern African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management. Similarly lively contacts are also maintained at federal state and municipal level, for example the town twinning arrangements between Windhoek and Berlin and Bremen. There is also intensive exchange between church-affiliated groups, non-governmental organisations and scientists and academics from the two countries. Economic Relations: In 2014, bilateral trade between Germany and Namibia was worth approximately EUR 274 million, German imports from Namibia amounting to nearly EUR 155 million and German exports to Namibia approximately EUR 119 million. Germany’s principal imports from Namibia are non-ferrous metals and other raw materials as well as food. Germany’s main exports to Namibia are machinery and food. Tourism is a particularly important element in Namibia’s service exports: the more than 80,000 Germans that visit Namibia every year are by far the largest group of tourists from a non-African country. Germany is also responsible for one of the largest foreign investments in Namibia: in February 2011 the Schwenk Group subsidiary Ohorongo Cement (Pty) Ltd was officially opened at a ceremony attended by the Namibia’s President, Prime Minister and numerous cabinet ministers. A total of approximately EUR 250 million was invested in the project. The plant provides more than 300 jobs and has indirectly helped to create another 2,000 jobs in the region. With an annual production capacity of 700,000 tonnes, it is designed to supply large sections of the market throughout southern Africa. Aggregate German direct investment in Namibia amounts to nearly EUR 90 million. The two governments are keen to step up bilateral economic relations. This was the purpose of the June 2015 visit to Germany by a high-ranking Namibian delegation headed by Economic Planning Minister Alweendo and the visit to Namibia by Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries, in late July 2015. An investment promotion and protection agreement and a double taxation accord are in force. Developmental Cooperation: Bilateral development cooperation is an integral element and cornerstone of the special relations between Namibia and Germany, more than EUR 800 million having been provided for this purpose since 1990. German engagement is not confined to official development assistance but also typically includes a variety of private initiatives and activities by non-governmental organisations. The ongoing aim is to support the Namibian government in its efforts to gradually close the rifts that still divide Namibian society as the legacy of colonialism and apartheid, with the resultant widespread poverty and high unemployment, and to support the country’s policy of national reconciliation. Here, Germany and Namibia are working together in three priority areas: - Management of National Resources - Transport - Sustainable Economic Development Republic of the Philippines Overview:
The Philippines has a population of over 100 million, making it one of the world’s most populous countries. With its democratic constitution, the Philippines is part of the Western community of shared values. Under the Government of President Rodrigo Duterte, however, the country has been increasingly distancing itself from the United States and the European Union. There are regular political exchanges between Germany and the Philippines at government and parliamentary level. The multilateral cooperation between Germany and the Philippines in areas such as climate policy and poverty reduction finds continued expression in bilateral relations by focusing economic cooperation on related issues. Developments in the Philippine human rights situation are monitored as a part of a critical dialogue on human rights. Official relations between the two countries are complemented by the activities of Germany’s political foundations and broad engagement on the part of German civil society. Economic Relations: Bilateral trade between Germany and the Philippines totalled 4.9 billion euros in 2016, down from 5.1 billion euros in 2015. German imports from the Philippines fell to 2.8 billion euros from 3.0 billion euros in 2015, and German exports to the Philippines decreased to 2.06 billion euros from 2.15 billion euros in 2015. Germany’s largest exports to the Philippines are electronic goods and electronic construction machinery, followed by other machinery. Aircraft as well as chemical and pharmaceutical products are also important exports. Goods made in Germany enjoy an excellent reputation in the Philippines, but many types of goods are only available in the upper price segment. As a broader middle class emerges in the country’s big cities, long-term market opportunities in the consumer goods sector will improve. Given the Philippines’ stable macroeconomic environment and high growth rates, there are clear signs of positive developments in economic relations between the two countries. In recent years, German companies making new investments in the IT services sector have outsourced internal business processes to the Philippines or opened their own call centres there. German companies in the maritime, transport and insurance sectors also see the Philippines as a promising future market. In addition, German companies in the industrial manufacturing sector have recently made investments in the Philippines. The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), set up in 2008, was admitted to the network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) in 2015. Germany is one of the biggest foreign investors in the country. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:28 AM.
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Great Leader of the Korean People
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Part 3: Russian Federation Overview: Russia’s annexation of Crimea in contravention of international law and its actions in eastern Ukraine overshadow German-Russian relations as well as Russia’s relations with the European Union and other Western partners. In response to Russia’s actions, the EU has imposed incremental sanctions on the country (asset freezes and travel bans on individuals and companies as well as sectoral economic and financial sanctions). At the same time, the Federal Government has repeatedly made it clear that the door to a dialogue with Russia remains open and that it actively and emphatically supports efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Germany and France in particular have, at the most senior level, pressed for observance of the September 2014 Minsk agreements. At a summit attended by Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine in Minsk on 12 February 2015, a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements was adopted. Economic Relations: As a result of the low price of oil, its insufficiently diverse economy and the effect of Western economic sanctions, Russia has faced an economic crisis in recent years to which it has responded with a policy of localisation and import substitutions. The renewed increase in oil prices since autumn 2016 has lessened Russia’s economic downturn. As a result of the economic crisis, German exports to Russia dropped by 26% in 2015 compared to the previous year to 21.8 billion euros. Between January and November 2016, the decrease slowed considerably to only -0.8% compared to 2015. Bilateral trade has fallen since 2012 from 80 billion euros to 47 billion euros from January to November 2016. Russia’s principal exports to Germany are raw materials, in particular oil and natural gas, as well as metal goods and petrochemical products. Germany’s main exports to Russia are mechanical engineering products, motor vehicles and vehicle parts, chemical products, food and agricultural produce. Despite the crisis, some 5200 companies with German capital investment have stayed in Russia and are preparing for the economy to pick up again. The relatively weak rouble and drops in wage costs are currently helping to make the Russian market more attractive. Many companies have remained in the hope of recouping the losses they made due to the crisis. In 2016, there were signs of a slight upturn in German-Russian trade relations, including German direct investment in Russia which increased to 2.2 billion US dollars in the first half of the year. Many regions in Russia, for example the Republic of Tatarstan and the Kaluga Region, are actively seeking to attract foreign investment. Incentives are being offered, ranging from the creation of industrial parks and special economic zones to the provision of land, buildings, transport infrastructure and connections to customs and tax concessions and cutting red tape. German companies are concerned about the political climate in Russia, the country’s economic development and protectionist tendencies that continue despite Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization also given Russia’s localisation policy and that negatively influence foreign companies. Quite apart from this, doing business in Russia requires circumspection and careful consultation on account of the country’s many idiosyncrasies. Customs clearance, certification and administrative procedures often still prove difficult. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Overview: Bilateral relations between Germany and Saudi Arabia were formalised as early as 1929 by the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Germany and the Kingdom of the Hijaz and the Nejd. This was three years before the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was proclaimed. Germany has maintained diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 1954. As with other Arab nations, Germany is held in high regard in Saudi Arabia. Relations between the two countries are fostered by regular high-level visits in both directions. At the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with the Saudi Arabian leadership in Jeddah on 30 April 2017. This marked her third trip to Saudi Arabia after visits in 2007 and 2010. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir has, since taking office in May 2015, visited Germany several times, most recently in February 2017 to attend the Munich Security Conference and in June 2017 to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. During a trip to the Gulf region, Foreign Minister Gabriel met his Saudi Arabian counterpart in Jeddah on 3 July 2017. There are also frequent visits to Saudi Arabia by members of the German Cabinet, Members of the German Bundestag and delegations from Germany’s federal states as well as visits to Germany by Saudi Arabian officials. Economic Relations: Saudi Arabia is Germany’s second most important Arab trading partner after the United Arab Emirates. For its part, Germany is the third largest supplier of Saudi Arabian imports. Saudi Arabia imports German products and services on a large scale. Germany’s main exports to Saudi Arabia are machinery, motor vehicles and chemical products as well as electrical, precision engineering und optical goods. In 2016, however, bilateral trade between Germany and Saudi Arabia decreased approximately 27 percent over the previous year to 7.3 billion euros. During this period, German imports from Saudi Arabia declined year-on-year by just under 29 percent, to a little over 622 million euros. It remains to be seen whether this downward trend will continue given the current relative stabilisation of the oil price. In the future, Saudi Arabia will remain an interesting market for German companies. Industrial diversification and renewable energy are key issues in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 reform programme as well as its National Transformation Program 2020, and these are core areas of German competence. This means that there are good prospects of greater economic cooperation between the two countries. An investment protection agreement has been in place since 1999. Through the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON), Saudi Arabia offers a range of incentives to encourage foreign companies to invest and create jobs in the country. Foreign companies and joint ventures are required to employ a certain percentage of Saudi Arabian nationals. The German-Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) in Riyadh has represented German business interests in the country since 1978. Launched in 1975, the Saudi-German Joint Economic Commission comprises representatives of the two countries’ governments and business communities. Syrian Arab Republic Overview: Please note: Currently, not all the usual country information is available for Syria. Owing to the hostilities there, more up-to-date information is not available and economic data is subject to considerable fluctuation. Republic of South Africa Overview: South Africa is Germany’s most important partner in sub-Saharan Africa. The German-South African Binational Commission, which has met biennially since 1996, provides the framework for bilateral cooperation. Its ninth meeting was held in Berlin on 15 and 16 November 2016. The wide-ranging and intensive relations between the two countries are underscored by regular high-level visits in both directions. Then Federal President Christian Wulff and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel met with President Jacob Zuma during their visit to South Africa in July 2010 to attend the FIFA World Cup. In December 2013, then Federal President Joachim Gauck represented Germany at the state memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. President Zuma visited Berlin on 10 November 2015, meeting with Federal Chancellor Merkel and then Federal President Gauck. There is also a lively exchange at parliamentary level. On the German side, a key role is played here by the German Bundestag’s Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the SADC States. Several German federal states have established close contacts and partnerships with South African provinces and conduct their own development cooperation and economic cooperation projects there, e.g. Bavaria with Gauteng and Western Cape, Baden-Württemberg with KwaZulu-Natal, North Rhine-Westphalia with Mpumalanga, Saxony with the Free State and Lower Saxony with Eastern Cape. Economic Relations: South Africa remains a market offering substantial opportunities for German companies, particularly in the renewable energy, water and infrastructure sectors. Many German companies value South Africa as a gateway to other African markets in the region. In 2015, bilateral trade was worth 15.5 billion euros. Germany thus remained South Africa’s second most important trading partner in 2015. The volume of bilateral trade is expected to decline slightly in 2016. Trade with the European Union represents 24.4 percent of South Africa’s total foreign trade, making it South Africa’s largest trading partner by far, ahead of China (12.8 percent) and the United States (6.8 percent). The European Union’s trade with South Africa totalled 44.9 billion euros in 2015. The approximately 600 German companies operating in South Africa have invested more than six billion euros there and employ a total workforce of nearly 100,000. Many of them assume responsibility for their workers, providing them and their families with support in areas such as education, vocational training and health care. German companies, which are invariably held in high regard in South Africa, are concentrated in the automotive and chemical industries and in the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors. In fact, Germany is the most important foreign investor in the country’s manufacturing sector. The Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Johannesburg and the Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) office provide support to German businesses with operations in South Africa. Developmental Cooperation: The German Government views South Africa as a “global development partner” with which it seeks close coordination in international bodies such as the United Nations and the World Bank. Bilateral development cooperation focuses on energy and climate change (green economy), good governance and public administration, HIV/AIDS prevention and vocational training. Germany is one of South Africa’s major bilateral donors, though all international donors combined contribute less than one percent to South Africa’s national budget. Since 1992, the German Government has provided 1.07 billion euros for bilateral development cooperation with South Africa. At the most recent intergovernmental negotiations in November 2016, commitments worth 314.25 million euros were made for the next two years. These funds will be provided predominantly in the form of loans because of South Africa’s advanced level of development. Republic of Turkey Overview: Germany has traditionally been held in high regard in Turkey. Relations between the two countries are wide-ranging and shaped by various formats for cooperation at political level. In May 2013, a Strategic Dialogue was launched at foreign minister level, which includes annual meetings between the two foreign ministers and the setting up of a number of working groups at the level of senior government officials to address issues such as bilateral relations, security policy, counter-terrorism, regional issues and Europe. In January 2015, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and then Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoǧlu agreed to hold biennial intergovernmental consultations, which took place for the first time on 22 January 2016 in Berlin. This foundation has in the past enabled both countries to engage in constructive cooperation even on controversial issues, which recently have increasingly come to dominate bilateral discussions. Moreover, Germany observes with great concern the developments in the wake of the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. In 1999, under Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the course was set for Turkey’s EU candidacy. Germany is particularly keen to bring Turkey closer to the European Union. Germany has therefore supported Turkey’s accession negotiations since they began in 2005. This is an open-ended process. The intensive relations between the two countries are also reflected in frequent two-way visits at the highest political level. Federal Chancellor Merkel most recently visited Turkey on 2 February 2016. On 8 March 2017, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Germany. Foreign Minister Gabriel last visited Turkey on 5 June 2017. There are also regular contacts between German and Turkish Government representatives through bilateral meetings or at international conferences. Economic Relations: Germany is Turkey’s most important trading partner. Bilateral trade between the two countries grew by 4 percent in 2016, reaching a new record of 37.3 billion euros. During the same period, Turkish exports to Germany increased year-on-year by 6.4 percent, to 15.4 billion euros, while Turkish imports from Germany fell year-on-year by 2 percent to 21.9 billion euros. Germany is also the second biggest foreign investor in Turkey, after the Netherlands, with investments totalling more than 13.3 billion euros since 1980. The number of companies in Turkey, both German and Turkish, that have received German equity investment has now risen to more than 6800. The areas in which they are active range from industrial manufacturing and the marketing of all types of products to a diverse range of service offerings to retail and wholesale operations. In Germany, some 96,000 entrepreneurs of Turkish origin employ some 500,000 people and generate annual revenues of approximately 50 billion euros. The downturn in the Turkish tourism sector resulted in an approximately 30 percent decline in the number of visitors to the country in 2016, with the number of visitors from Germany also falling. Nevertheless, Germans were again the largest group of visitors to Turkey in 2016, with 3.9 million German visitors travelling there during this period (compared with 5.58 million German visitors in 2015). Since 1985, the German business community in Turkey has been represented by a Delegate Office of German Industry and Commerce in Istanbul. In addition, the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TD-IHK) was founded in Cologne in 2004. Since 2012, it has been domiciled in Berlin, with a branch office in Cologne. An investment protection agreement between Germany and Turkey has been in place since as early as 1962. The Turkish law on international arbitration entered into force in July 2001. After the bilateral double taxation agreement of 1985 was terminated, a new double taxation agreement took effect retrospectively on 1 January 2011. In November 2012, then Economics Minister Philipp Rösler and then Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz signed a joint declaration in which the two countries agreed to step up bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. The German-Turkish Energy Forum was established as a new framework for dialogue on energy matters between representatives of the two countries’ political and economic sectors and as a means to reach agreement on specific areas of cooperation and action. The first ministerial-level meeting within this framework was held in Ankara in April 2013. In addition, the two countries’ economics ministries agreed to set up a Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO). The aim is to create a cross-sectoral platform that includes an annual meeting chaired by the two economics ministers. Development, Environmental, and Humanitarian Cooperation: Bilateral development cooperation with Turkey, which began in 1959, was officially terminated in 2008. Over the decades, the cooperation had evolved into a successful model. Germany pledged a cumulative total of more than 4.5 billion euros under financial and technical cooperation. This assistance, which took the form of concessionary loans and grants, was used to conduct a total of more than 400 projects, a few of which are still running. Although traditional development cooperation is being phased out, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is continuing cooperation with Turkey in selected innovative and forward-looking areas. For example, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), acting on behalf of the German Government, has made available extensive promotional loans, especially in the following areas: municipal infrastructure, renewable energy and energy efficiency, financial sector development and SME promotion. The German Government is currently helping Turkey to deal with the consequences of the Syrian refugee crisis. In 2016, the Federal Foreign Office provided a total of 56 million euros in humanitarian aid to assist relief efforts for Syrian refugees in Turkey. The aid was provided mainly in the form of vouchers to cover the basic needs – food, shelter and health care – of particularly vulnerable refugees. In 2016, the BMZ contributed nearly 100 million euros to fund projects that benefit Syrian refugees and the host communities. A special priority are measures to provide schooling and vocational training and to create jobs so as to give the refugees living in Turkey prospects for the future and to ease the burden on the Turkish host communities. Since 2007, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) has become an increasingly active cooperation partner of Turkey. The BMUB supports environmental and climate projects in the country, funded under its International Climate Initiative (ICI), which in turn is financed by the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). In this area of cooperation, a particularly important role is played by the bilateral Environment Steering Committee, which meets once a year and comprises representatives of the two countries’ environment ministries. Ukraine Overview: Germany is very keen to see a stable, democratic and economically flourishing Ukraine. The Federal Government is assisting Ukraine’s transition to a market economy and its efforts to move closer to European structures. In the wake of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in contravention of international law and in light of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine that has claimed large numbers of victims, Germany is seeking to reach a peaceful settlement of the crisis in close cooperation with its European and international partners, especially within the framework of what is known as the Normandy format (Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia). Germany strongly supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and does not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Germany and Ukraine enjoy a close political dialogue. Federal President Gauck attended the inauguration of President Poroshenko on 7 June 2014 and travelled to Kyiv again in September 2016. Federal Chancellor Merkel last received President Poroshenko in Berlin on 31 January 2017 while Foreign Minister Gabriel last met his counterpart Klimkin on 18 February 2017. Germany’s federal states, cities and municipalities, as well as universities and schools, private associations and individuals also feature prominently in bilateral relations. Under the German Bundestag’s International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) programme and the High Level Experts Programme of the Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Kyiv, young Ukrainian professionals visit Berlin each year to complete an internship at the German Bundestag, Federal Foreign Office or other institutions. Economic Relations: In 2015, Ukraine’s economy shrank by 10.6 per cent, mainly as a result of the continued fighting in the east of the country. There were signs that Ukraine’s economic situation was beginning to stabilise last year, however. Current estimates for the entire year 2016 forecast economic growth of 2.2 per cent, while GDP growth in the final quarter of 2016 was 4.7 per cent. If a lasting cessation of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine is achieved and the country’s economic reform agenda – supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Union and other international actors – is implemented, Ukraine has a good chance of recording continuous growth in the future (forecasts for 2017 predict growth of two to three per cent), though considerable risks still remain (including a recent temporary deterioration in the terms of trade as a result of falling prices for numerous export goods, Russian economic measures against Ukraine, political uncertainty, corruption, lack of legal certainty and risks within the country’s banking system, as well as recent bottlenecks in the supply of energy and raw materials caused by a blockade of transport routes). The Federal Government is supporting Ukraine’s economic development in a variety of ways, including the provision of an untied loan to the tune of 500 million euros. Germany is one of Ukraine’s most important trading and investment partners. Ukraine still records a marked deficit in its trade with Germany, though this has been trending downwards since 2014. The principal German exports to Ukraine are machinery, motor vehicles, chemical and pharmaceutical products, electrical goods, foodstuffs and animal feed. Ukraine’s main exports to Germany are textiles and garments, metals, chemical products and motor vehicles. More than 1000 German companies are currently doing business in Ukraine. In addition to the services provided by the German Embassy, their interests are looked after by the Chamber of Commerce Abroad established in Kyiv in October 2016, the local representative of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Acting on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the German Advisory Group advises the Ukrainian Government on questions of economic and social policy. Since 2005, questions relating to bilateral economic relations have been discussed by the German-Ukrainian High-Level Working Group on Economic Issues. United Arab Emirates Overview: The Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May 1972. The two countries agreed in April 2004 to establish a strategic partnership, and in January 2009 to hold regular political consultations between their foreign ministries, thus demonstrating their intention to build stronger relations in the political sphere while maintaining extensive trade relations. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel paid a visit to Abu Dhabi in early July 2017. He had previously visited the UAE in 2015 in his role as Economic Affairs Minister. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the UAE in May 2017 to hold talks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In May 2016, the Crown Prince had travelled to Berlin for talks with the Federal Chancellor. Political consultations at state secretary level were held most recently in April 2017 as well as in June and October 2016, each time in Berlin. These numerous high-level visits reflect the close cooperation between the two countries. Economic Relations: German exports to the UAE were worth approximately 14.5 billion euros in 2016, making the UAE – along with Saudi Arabia – Germany’s biggest export market in the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. During the same period, German imports from the UAE totalled 0.9 billion euros. Germany’s main exports to UAE are cars, machinery, electrical goods and chemical products. Its main imports from the UAE are aluminium goods and chemical products. Germany does not import oil from the UAE. All the instruments for promoting German trade and investment are available in the UAE. The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the German Consulate General in Dubai provide advice and political support, while a correspondent of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) in Dubai draws up sectoral analyses and evaluates calls for tenders but is not engaged in investment acquisition. In addition, the German-Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK) was set up in 2009, making Germany the first country to open a bilateral chamber of industry and commerce in the UAE. Its job is to further boost bilateral trade and improve German companies’ access to markets in the country. There are some 900 German companies operating in the UAE (a number that is growing), most of them in Dubai (approximately 600) and Abu Dhabi, and a far smaller number in the five northern emirates. In addition, the German National Tourist Board and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively. There are some 12,000 German nationals living in the UAE, most of them in Dubai. Agreements between Germany and the UAE include an air transport agreement and an investment protection agreement, as well as a new double taxation agreement that entered into force retrospectively on 1 January 2009, after being ratified in mid-2011. United Kingdom Overview: Germany and the United Kingdom enjoy close and wide-ranging relations based on mutual trust. Both countries play an active role in the European Union (of which the UK is still a member), in NATO, the United Nations, the G7, the G20 and other international bodies. Like Germany, the United Kingdom is actively engaged in international climate protection. The close political cooperation between the two countries is reflected in the frequent contacts between the two heads of government as well as between British and German ministers and members of parliament. It is also supported by the political foundations with offices in London (the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung). The annual Königswinter Conferences, instituted in 1950, are a key forum for political dialogue between Germany and the United Kingdom. The last conference took place in Germany at Schloss Neuhardenberg in late March 2017. In terms of security policy, Germany has, since late 2015, been regarded as a strategic bilateral partner of the United Kingdom, along with the United States and France. The upcoming negotiations on the United Kingdom’s exit from and future relationship with the European Union as well as its desire to compensate for its leaving the EU through closer relations with Germany will be the focus of bilateral talks in the coming years. Economic Relations: The United Kingdom and Germany are important partners for one another, in terms of both trade and investment. Germany is the United Kingdom’s most important goods trading partner, ahead of the United States. The United Kingdom ranks fifth among Germany’s trading partners but is its third most important export market. Germany traditionally records a surplus in bilateral trade, with German exports worth EUR 86 billion and German imports EUR 36 billion in 2016. Taking into account services, which are of greater importance for the UK’s foreign trade, the United Kingdom ranks third among Germany’s principal trading partners, while Germany takes second place among the UK’s trading partners, after the United States. There are more than 2,500 German companies with branches in the United Kingdom, employing a total of around 420,000 workers. This means that German company branches employ more than one per cent of the UK’s total workforce. Conversely, some 3,000 British companies are active in Germany. Direct and indirect German investment in the UK (including Siemens, Bosch, BMW, RWE, E.ON, Uniper, Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Post, Linde and HeidelbergCement) stood at around EUR 121 billion in 2014, while direct and indirect British investment in Germany (e.g. BP, Shell, GKN, Terra Firma and Rolls Royce) was worth EUR 49 billion. United States of America Overview:
Germany and the United States of America are bound together by long-standing ties of friendship. The two countries share many common experiences, values and interests, though controversial issues occasionally arise in bilateral relations. Germany owes a great deal to the United States: in the aftermath of the Second World War, it provided political support and economic assistance to West Germany under the Marshall Plan. Without the United States as guarantor of freedom in the decades of the Cold War and without U.S. support for German reunification, Germany would not have achieved national reunification in freedom. In the future, too, the partnership with the United States will be of overriding importance – for Germany’s freedom, security and economic success. An important pillar of bilateral relations is the transatlantic security community (NATO). For Germany, the transatlantic alliance is of paramount importance. Comprehensive cooperation between Germany and the United States on security policy has continued to evolve in terms of priorities, one of which is combating international terrorism. Other issues currently shaping bilateral relations are the ties between Germany and the United States as trading partners, as partners who work together to uphold shared values, but also as partners in strengthening security and stability in regional and global crises. The close contacts between the two countries are maintained by regular visits to the United States by Federal Chancellor Merkel, Federal Foreign Minister Gabriel and other members of her Cabinet. Federal Chancellor Merkel travelled to Washington, D.C., most recently on 16 March 2017 for her first meeting with the new US President Donald Trump. Federal Foreign Minister Gabriel had met his U.S. counterpart Tillerson there on 2 February 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson took part in the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bonn on 16 and 17 February 2017. Vice-President Pence attended the Munich Security Conference on 17 February 2017. President Trump is expected to travel to Germany for the G20 Summit, which will be held in Hamburg in July 2017. Another important element of bilateral relations is the intensive exchange of views between German and American parliamentarians. Of special significance for reasons associated with its history is Germany’s relationship with the approximately six million Jewish Americans, many of whom have German roots. The Federal Government and the German Bundestag maintain intensive contacts and attach great importance to dialogue with American Jewish organisations in order to actively address the crimes committed by the Nazi regime, atone and provide compensation for these as far as possible and foster mutual understanding. Economic Relations: Economic relations between Germany and the United States are another essential pillar of bilateral relations. They cover practically all sectors and are largely untroubled. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which has been under negotiation between the EU and the United States since 2013, could open up additional opportunities here. The United STates is the biggest buyer of German exports and Germany is the United State' most important trading partner in Europe. In terms of the total volume of U.S. bilateral trade (imports and exports), Germany remains in fifth place, behind Canada, China, Mexico and Japan. The U.S. ranks first among Germany’s trading partners. At the end of 2015, bilateral trade was worth approximately 174 billion S dollars. Germany and the Unites States are important to each other as investment destinations. At the end of 2015, bilateral investment was worth 363 billion US dollars, German direct investment in the Unites States amounting to 255 billion US dollars and Unites States direct investment in Germany 108 billion US dollars. At the end of 2015, US direct investment in Germany, at approximately 108 billion US dollars, declined against the previous year (approximately 115 billion US dollars). German direct investment in the Unites States amounted to some 255 billion US dollars, above the previous year’s level (approximately 224 billion US dollars). Germany is the seventh largest foreign investor in the United States, after the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and ranks eleventh as a destination for U.S. foreign direct investment. Security and Defense Relations: Military relations between Germany and the Unites States are based on shared values and find expression in troop deployments in the partner country and, in particular, in joint missions. Germany’s military contributions to crisis and conflict management are not only of military relevance to the United States but also of great significance in terms of military policy. For instance, Germany is, after the Unites States, the principal partner in Afghanistan in the Resolute Support Mission (RSM). Germany’s contribution to the anti-ISIS coalition and its assistance in providing military training in northern Iraq are also greatly appreciated by the U.S. side. Germany hosts one of the largest contingents of American forces outside the Unites States and the largest within Europe. The only two military regional commands of U.S. forces stationed outside the Unites States (out of a total of six) are in Stuttgart (USEUCOM and USAFRICOM). The largest US military hospital outside its own territory is in the German town of Landstuhl; it serves as a first stop for U.S. troops wounded in action. At the summits in Newport, Wales (2014) and Warsaw (2016), NATO member states agreed, among other things, to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank. Germany and the Unites States are making substantial contributions in this respect, including the presence of military units in Poland and Lithuania, improving military capabilities and coordinating training exercises and manoeuvres in Eastern Europe (Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training Initiative, TACET). The TACET concept is being developed further and, as a result of this long-standing cooperation, is being employed for joint manoeuvres, the intensive exchange of experience and the further development of deployment procedures. Conversely, troops of the German Armed Forces receive training at American armed forces’ facilities in the Unites States, regularly participate in joint manoeuvres and are integrated in terms of staff assignments in both the Unites States and Germany. Since autumn 2014, a German Brigadier General has for the first time occupied the prominent position of Chief of Staff of U.S. Army Europe, which is based in Wiesbaden. At the same time, the Unites States expects European members of NATO to make progress in improving their military capabilities. President Trump is strongly urging NATO allies to make a greater contribution to security, and in particular to increase their defence budgets. There is also close cooperation between the two countries in the defence technology sector. This intensive cooperation is reflected in the existence of a German Liaison Office for Defense Materiel in the Unites States and a number of liaison officers working in important sections of the U.S. armed forces. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:27 AM.
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| Bobithy | Nov 29 2017, 10:23 AM Post #5 |
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Great Leader of the Korean People
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![]() Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH About Us: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or GIZ in short is a German development agency headquartered in Bonn and Eschborn that provides services in the field of international development cooperation. GIZ mainly implements technical cooperation projects of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), its main commissioning party, although it also works with the private sector and other national and supranational government organizations (but usually not with non-governmental organizations) on a public benefit basis. In its activities GIZ seeks to follow the paradigm of sustainable development, which aims at balancing economic development with social inclusion and environmental protection. GIZ offers consulting and capacity building services in a wide range of areas, including management consulting, rural development, sustainable infrastructure, security and peace-building, social development, governance and democracy, environment and climate change, and economic development and employment. GIZ was established on January 1, 2011, through the merger of three German international development organizations: the Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), and Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung (InWEnt). GIZ is one of the world's largest development agencies, with a business volume in excess of €2.1 billion in 2015 as well as 17,319 employees spread over more than 130 countries. Additionally, in cooperation with the German Federal Employment Agency, GIZ operates the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM), an agency specialized on international cooperation activities related to global labor mobility. Information for Governments Wishing to Work with the GIZ: The GIZ strives to provide advise, expertise, materials, and other assistance in various areas of developing a country. As a result the GIZ prefers to work directly with the governments of countries involved in GIZ Programs. At times the GIZ will approach these governments actively to propose developmental programs. However government are also encouraged to approach the GIZ with their program ideas and wishes for developmental benchmarks. These proposals will be reviewed by the GIZ and approved after being reviewed on a variety of guidelines and requirements. The priority areas of the GIZ’s work for governments worldwide are: Vocational Training: Programs which create or expand vocational training schools and programs within a country in order to provide the population with the ability and skills needed to find rewarding and successful careers in order to support themselves and their families and to become productive members of a developing society. Education: Education, specifically Primary Education, is the groundwork for a stable and democratic society as well as a productive and growing one. Assisting in the creation, expansion, and access of public education is a high priority for the GIZ. Energy and Climate: A stable and growing energy production environment is vital in the economic development of a society. The GIZ is committed to assist governments in creating a stable and productive energy grid with the interest of the global climate. This concentrates on clean and renewable energy sources. Health Care: For a society to continue to prosper a accessible public healthcare system is a central pillar. The creation, modernization, and expansion of hospitals and clinics; along with increasing access to these facilities; is an important aspect of GIZ Development Programs. Infrastructure / Construction: A societies infrastructure (roads, railways, public transport) is important in ensuring that the economy can continue to grow and develop in the modern era. In tandem: a strong domestic construction sector allows the infrastructure and other economic developments to continue and expand. Water: The GIZ is dedicated to ensuring the basic human needs of a society are met. The GIZ will work with local governments to help provide not only a temporary solution to clean water issues in their nation, but also to provide and assist in creating a permanent solution for affordable and accessible clean water to even the most rural areas. Good Governance: The GIZ is dedicated to assisting nations in their continued mission of creating a government that represents the people through democratic representation. Democratization programs will receive high priority. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:24 AM.
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| Jos1311 | Jan 22 2018, 07:26 AM Post #6 |
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Head Admin
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FY2018 Developmental and Humanitarian Aid Breakdown United Nations Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Relief Funds: US$ 1,500,000,000 European Developmental Aid Recipients Republic of Albania: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 57,210,000 Kingdom of Belgium: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 26,000,000 Republic of Belarus: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 3,560,000 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Amount Received Annually: US$ 36,761,000 Republic of Croatia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 481,000 Hellenic Republic - Amount Received Annually: US$ 4,680,000 Republic of Macedonia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 14,000,000 Montenegro: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 5,610,000 Russian Federation: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 45,000,000 Republic of Serbia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 100,000,000 Republic of Turkey: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 124,660,000 Ukraine: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 367,820,000 Refugee Assistance in Germany and Other European Countries: - Amount Provided Annually: US$ 600,000,000 - Provided to assist with housing, education, and other needs of basic human rights. African Developmental Aid Recipients Democratic Republic of the Congo: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 182,000,000 - New Developmental Aid Negotiations Planned for 2017, Delayed due to Delay in DR Congo Elections and Human Right Violations Arab Republic of Egypt: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 250,000,000 - Egypt is one of the largest developmental cooperation partners of Germany, receiving a significant portion of developmental assistance support: in terms of project funding, engineering assistance, and other programs. Republic of Ethiopia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 207,000,000 - The Republic of Ethiopia is considered another major developmental partner of Germany's, with the country receiving over 200,000,000 US dollars in financial and technical aid. Namibia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 120,000,000 Rest of Africa: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 3,400,000,000 Asian Developmental Aid Recipients Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 766,320,000 Bangladesh: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 131,000,000 Peoples Republic of China: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 106,000,000 Islamic Republic of Iran: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 80,000 Republic of Iraq: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 379,870,000 Republic of India: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 234,770,000 Kingdom of Jordan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 272,400,000 Kyrgyzstan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 55,730,000 Republic of Korea: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 50,000,000 Mongolia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 68,610,000 Myanmar: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 103,000,000 Nepal: - Amount Received Annually US$ 83,000,000 Islamic Republic of Pakistan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 289,000,000 Palestinian Territories: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 118,000,000 Tajikistan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 30,830,000 Syrian Arab Republic: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 142,187,000 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 70,000,000 Uzbekistan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 27,230,000 United Arab Emirates: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 22,000,000 Republic of Yemen: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 94,000,000 South Asia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 950,000,000 American Developmental Aid Recipients United States of America: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 15,000,000 United States of Mexico: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 144,000,000 Rest of the Americas: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 1,250,000,000 Current Humanitarian Aid Recipients Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- Amount Received Annually: US$ 500,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Clean Water, Water Purification Equipment/Tablets, and Crisis/Conflict Management Assistance. Republic of Ethiopia: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 500,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Clean Water, Water Purification Equipment, Healthcare/Hospital Equipment, and Doctor/Medical Service Payments. Republic of Iraq: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 800,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Clean Water, Water Purification Equipment/Tablets, Healthcare/Hospital Equipment. Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 75,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Water Purification Equipment/Tablets, Healthcare/Hospital Equipment. Syrian Arab Republic: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 375,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Water Purification Equipment/Tablets. Sudan/South Sudan: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 200,000,000 - Provided in the Form of Food, Medicine, Water Purification Equipment/Tablets, Healthcare/Hospital Equipment; Specifically Concentrating on Darfur. Republic of Turkey: - Amount Received Annually: US$ 200,000,000 - Provided in cooperation with the Turkish government to provide needed materials to Syrian Refugees. Sub-Sahara African Relief Funds: - Amount Provided Annually: US$ 3,400,000,000 - Provided to a fund which supports humanitarian relief and peacekeeping efforts across Sub-Sahara Africa; provided to government organizations, UN-supported organizations and teams, as well as limited and vetted Non-Profit Organizations. Edited by Jos1311, Jan 22 2018, 07:30 AM.
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5:04 PM Jul 10
