Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Franz Ring

On 3 October 2006 Germany is celebrating the 16 anniversary of its unification. The path towards unification was opened after 40 years of division. On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall, the symbol of division, came down when private citizens began to demolish entire sections of it. The peaceful unification was a political success story in German history. Great achievements were made in bringing the two parts of Germany together and in overcoming difficulties while some problems still remain to be solved.

The close and friendly relations between Nepal and Germany have developed over the past decades. I am confident that our strong bilateral cooperation will deepen further. The recent visit of a German delegation for government consultations is proof of the continuation of our development cooperation and our common goal to assist the Nepali people in its stride for overcoming poverty and reaching economic stability and prosperity. I am also optimistic that the improvement of the political stability in Nepal will contribute to increase the number of German tourists coming to Nepal. I witness with pride the ever increasing number of Nepali-German organizations maintaining direct contacts between many citizens of our two countries, a network which is an important part of our bilateral relations.

Germany and its people support the ongoing peace process in Nepal. We sincerely wish that the process will lay the foundation for a sustainable peace in Nepal and for stability for its people who have suffered terribly under the armed conflict for more than a decade. A fundamental prerequisite for a peace settlement and the full restoration of democracy is an atmosphere that allows for free and fair elections in the whole of Nepal, in particular also in the countryside. In this regard, Germany welcomes the arrival of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Representative and fully supports his assistance for the ongoing peace process and an effective arms management. I also would like to underline that an integral part of the peace process remains the respect of human rights and of international human rights commitments.

Nepal-Germany Economic Diplomacy

Rohini Thapaliya, President, Nepal - German Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Our economic diplomacy has been marked by cordial and deep friendship ever since the establishment of Nepal German relation in April 4, 1958. Germany is the biggest economy market in the EU. With 82 million people, it is home to 18% of the EU population producing 22 percent of the union’s GDP. Its central location in Europe makes the country an ideal hub for the goods and services produced in our country as well. Our effective economic diplomacy with Germany can create new avenues for our new products and services. It is proved that Germany has continually been the surplus trade contributor to Nepalese economy from the very beginning.

Nepal always recalled the commemorative day of German Unity on October 3rd 1990 as Nepal- German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NGCCI), the country’s first bilateral chamber was founded in the same year as of the German Unification. Ever since NGCCI has been closely working with the German Embassy with the mission of fostering economic cooperation through the promotion of bilateral trade, investment, and industry between Nepal and Germany is a widely recognized organization in Germany and Nepal for lobbying of bilateral trade and investment in both the countries by offering quality services to German investors and Nepalese exporters.

We therefore look forward to provide services to Nepalese businessmen and industrialists having business relation with German and German Business people, offering business in Nepal. The NGCCI works in collaboration with the Private Entrepreneurs, the German Embassy, GTZ-PSP, ded Nepal and German development partners in driving Nepal’s economy forward through the promotion of a wide range of Nepalese products.

Major exportable Nepalese products such as carpets, tea, aromatic plant, herbs, handmade papers. honey etc., are winning market shares in Germany through the special efforts of the Chamber and private sector initiatives in both the countries. It is observed in Germany that the social market economy is the foundation for the success of the German Economy. As far as the German community is concerned, it is the best framework for the promotion pf creativity, performance and individual initiatives. In this context, Nepalese exporter should be able to adapt this proven system time to time in gaining trust in German market. We are also encouraged by the efforts that the Government of Nepal is seriously thinking over of formulating lucid policies and legislative framework to attract more foreign direct investment in Nepal.

Undoubtedly, Germany is a leader in European integration process which possesses a vast reservoir of resources, and state-of-the-art industrial and technical know-how. Nepal, being a landlocked and a least developing country can learn and gain much from Germany’s expertise & experience.

In the coming years, Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) will continue to further probe and strengthen our economic ties by promoting economic diplomacy for mutual benefits of both our countries.

I, on behalf of NGCCI greet the German people in celebrating the Day of German Unity.

German belongs to the nucleus group of three foreign languages initially taught in Nepal

Dr Manfred Treu, Head of the Department of German, Campus of International Languages, TribhuvanUniversity, Kathmandu

German belongs to the nucleus group of three foreign languages initially taught in Nepal. This happened through the initiative of the former ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan and China, Mr Niranjan Bhattarai, and the help of foreign embassies in Kathmandu at the School of International Languages. The school was later integrated into the Tribhuvan

University and transformed into the Visvabhasa Campus /Campus of International Languages.

Since 1961, German language classes have been offered without interruption through the services of teachers from Germany and since 1996 also by Nepalese teachers. Today there are around 300 students enrolled. Many Nepalese who went for academic studies or professional training to a German speaking country have received their first German language training at this Campus. Among the prominent names of those enrolled for German classes are former minister of finance of the first democratically elected government of Nepal 1990, Mr Mahesh Acharya, and former ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Nobel Kishor Rai.

At present, German is taught at six levels consisting of six semesters. The third year course (Post-Advanced) is the highest-grade course in the country and aims at qualifying the participants at or above the European standard level C 1. Students having passed the second year with marks above the average felt themselves at ease while undergoing language tests in order to qualify for study courses at German universities. Others have become successful university students of different subjects as well as teachers, interpreters, businessmen, tour operators and tourist guides, etc.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany had equipped the Campus with an audio-laboratory and a state-of-the-art multimedia outfit for digital audio-visual learning with access to Deutsche Welle broadcasting.

In addition to curricular activities, German language students participate in activities like theatre workshops or literary related events.

German Assistance to promote local musical traditions of Nepal

-Gert-Matthias Wegner, KathmanduUniversity, Department of Music at Bhaktapur

In an attempt to promote documentation and practice of local musical traditions of Nepal, the then HMG Ministry of Education and Culture, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation (BMZ), combined their efforts to enable Kathmandu University to open its Department of Music in August 1996 at Chupin Ghat, Bhaktapur with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) course in Music. The then German President, Dr. Roman Herzog inaugurated the school during his state visit to Nepal in November 1996. Founded and directed by German ethnomusicologist, Prof. Dr. Gert-Matthias Wegner, the department attracted students from twenty-two countries including Nepal. To date this is the only university department in South Asia offering fully-fledged Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts courses in ethnomusicology, along with performance training in various classical and local musical traditions of Nepal. As part of an academic exchange programme, the examinations are recognized by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Located in a beautifully restored temple area (Shivalaya), this institution includes a collection and exhibition of musical instruments and a climatized sound archive. This may help preserve the memory and repertoire of some of the endangered musical traditions of Nepal. A series of well documented CDs contributes to this goal.

The department remained self-supportive from the first semester onwards. It gives employment to twenty-two staff members, among them some of the best musicians of the country.

With the assistance of Eco Himal, the school installed a digital sound recording studio and employs one of the senior most sound engineers of Nepal to instruct students in the use of contemporary recording technology. Consequently, the Department of Music produced some of the most renowned and awarded popular musicians of Nepal including Nabin Bhattarai, Sanup Paudel and Lochan Rizal.

Germany and the Cultural Heritage of Nepal

-Prof. Götz Hagmuller, architect (presently chief consultant for the restoration of the Garden of Dreams in Kathmandu)

September 2006

During the last 35 years, Germany has been a major donor for the preservation of Nepal’s unique cultural heritage.

It all began with the wedding of late King Birendra and an unusual gift for such an event: the restoration of Pujari Math, one of the finest old buildings in Bhaktapur, by a group of young German architects. This successful first step gave birth to the Bhaktapur Development Project (BDP), a comprehensive urban renewal programme for this historical town, and one of the worldwide three largest German assistance projects at the time, lasting 12 years from 1974 onwards. Besides restoring some 200 Malla-period buildings, ponds, wells, and the historical water supply system, the programme included new urban facilities (public and private toilets, a complete new sewer system and the repaving of all squares, streets and lanes of the entire city, an industries area and a school building programme) in combination with building control and urban development plans, as well as a successful project for small business promotion, and two museums on Dattatraya Square.

After the end of BDP, the visit of Chancellor Helmut Kohl in 1987 was the occasion for another welcome gift to Bhaktapur: the reconstruction of the “Eight Corner Pavilion” on its Darbar Square, lost in the 1934 earthquake. With its architectural "crown jewel” missing, the collapse of this precious 18 century building had left a deplorable void in the ancient urban setting of the city’s main square. On the basis of historical photographs, the reconstruction over three years has re-used as many of the original timber pillars and beams as still could be found, but has also employed modern technology with an interior steel frame to make the pavilion earthquake resistant.

Luckily, the legacy of this bi-lateral cooperation in Bhaktapur over three decades is not being lost. More than in any town of Kathmandu Valley, the Bhaktapur Municipality is seriously concerned with the preservation and continued renovation of its historical fabric. It also was the first city to ban motor traffic from its centre, to charge visiting tourists with an entrance fee, and to use these funds effectively for restoration.

The German Embassy’s financial support for smaller conservation projects has continued, the latest example being its contribution to the recent restoration of Itumbaha, an important monument of Kathmandu’s Buddhist heritage.

An off-spring of BDP was the country-wide GTZ programme of Urban Development through Local Efforts (UDLE), which included a Conservation Programme for Patan in the early 1990s. UDLE took the initiative for other conservation efforts like the public awareness campaign in 1993 to Save Anand Niketan, a prominent palace of the Rana period, from its imminent demolition.

German Development Cooperation with Nepal

The year 1990 has a special meaning in the history of Nepal and Germany .

While in Nepal democracy was reestablished for the first time in 1990, we, the implementing agencies for German Development Corporation, celebrate the peaceful reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990 as German National Day.

Peace and democracy are important preconditions for successful development. This day reminds the German Development Community of our value based efforts to contribute to the development of other countries.

German Development Cooperation with Nepal is longstanding. The present Cooperation focuses on three priority areas:

- Promotion of Local Self Governance and Civil Society
- Renewable Energy
- Health and Family Planning

An efficient and democratic local governance system improves service delivery, allows for best local solutions to local problems and puts decision making close to the people, encouraging transparency and accountability.

Renewable energy fosters sustainable development and is a prerequisite for economic growth.

Support to the health sector contributes to human development to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

These priority areas are supportive to the implementation of Nepal ’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, fostering Economic Growth, Human Development, Social Inclusion and Good Governance.

The German experience demonstrates that a re-unification process based on the will of the people includes compromises, gives and takes, and a joint commitment for change.

We again share the hope and endeavours for a peaceful and democratic unified Nepal including the rule of law and social justice. This would allow us to contribute efficiently to poverty reduction lending support to a lasting peace in the country.

Pages from History
Nepal-Federal Republic of Germany Relations: A Brief Survey

Keshav Raj Jha

Historical background:

The beginning of the relationship between the kingdom of Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany could be traced back to the 16 th century. The cultural contact between the two culturally rich countries is older than the political one. In this context, it is noteworthy to mention that the legend of Bodhistva (Lord Buddha) has been adopted in the medieval German literature. Alois Anton Fuerer a German explorer, rediscovered Lord Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini in 1896. He found the memorial pillar of polished sand stone which Emperor Ashoka had erected in 250 BC.

Historical evidences show that Germans were the first Europeans to visit Nepal. The Jesuit Priest Johannes Grueber from the Holy Roman Empire traveled with his French fired Father D'Orville in the 16 th century. Pratap Malla (1641-1674) was then on the throne of Kathmandu and his younger brother Srinivas Malla (1661-1684) had just assumed the reigns of power in Patan. Both of the Kings were presented with a telescope by their guest. For many years, the reports of Johannes Grueber remained the only authentic account on Nepal in the Western World.

In 1845, Prince Waldemar of Prussia visited Nepal. In 1850, the then prime Minister Mahraja Junga Bahadur had met Prince William (later William I) in London.

Nepal-German relations entered a phase of direct contacts shortly before the Second World War. The then German Consul General in Calcutta visited Kathmandu in 1837. he presented the awards of the "Star of German Red Cross" and the "Order of the German Red Cross" to Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher and Commander-in-chief Padma Shumsher respectively on behalf of the German Government. The Consul General and his colleague were reciprocated by being awarded with "Pradipata Gorkha Dakshine Bahu" and "Prabala Gorkha Dakshina Bahu" respectively. The exchange of decorations was an indication towards the initiation of promoting good relation between the two countries.

However, during the First and the second world wars Nepalese army contingents were on the side of the British because of its traditional link and ties with that country and had fought against the Germans without declaring war with Germany. The German Emperor declared that he was willing to send his army to fight against any nation except the Gurkhas. The Germans admired the courage and the gallantry of the Nepalese, who were in turn impressed by the great achievements of the Germans in the field of science and technology.

Nepal's rich natural and cultural heritage have attracted many learned German scholars and explorers since time immemorial. Both Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany believe that mutual understanding of culture and religion is beneficial to Nepal-German relations.

Nepal-Federal Republic of Germany 's Relations in Modern Era

Nepal and Federal Republic of Germany have maintained an uninterrupted record of good relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations on April 4, 1958.

Relations between Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany, based on common and shared belief in a policy of peace and cooperation, have grown steadily despite differences stemming from cultural and historical experiences and their levels of economic development.

Federal Republic of Germany has always considered the safeguard of peace to be the most important goal of her foreign policy objectives and consequently supports all endeavors aiming at the maintenance of peace. In keeping with its policy of supporting concepts for peace, Federal Republic of Germany has supported Nepal's Zone of peace proposal in December 24, 1984. Federal Republic of Germany hopes that the Nepalese proposal serves to promote stability in South Asia and this concept would be recognized by all countries concerned. Likewise, the Federal Republic of Germany has also expressed its strong support for Nepal's policy of non-alignment and her stand on various international issues on the basis of their merits.

Similarly, Nepal has always taken a conciliatory moderating and constructive attitude on the German question in international organization, such as the United Nations. Federal Republic of Germany's desire to live in peace with her neighbors and her policy of improving relations with Eastern bloc countries has been appreciated in Nepal. Nepal, which has declared herself a Zone a Peace would very much like to see a state of peace in Europe in which the German people will be able to regain unity through peaceful means.

Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany share almost identical views on may international issues. Germany's policy towards the least developed countries and her support to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is viewed with appreciation in Nepal.

Exchange of visits at various levels form time to time have also made significant contribution to enhance and foster the existing bilateral ties, and have opened new avenues of meaningful cooperation in various fields. In this context, the official visit of His Late Majesty King Mahendra in 1964 to the Federal Republic of Germany provided a new dimension to the friendship between the two countries. This state visit proved highly successful in making the Federal Republic of Germany recognize Nepal's aspirations for development confirming to its contemporary need and realities.

The state visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Heinrich Lubke to Nepal in 1967 had helped to promote and strengthen relations between the two countries. The visit, apart from generating goodwill towards Nepal, had brought Nepal into the limelight of international civil aviation map. President Lubke came to Nepal with his jet plane which landed safely on Kathmandu Tribhuvan airport heralding a new era in civil aviation history of Nepal.

A number of private visits by His Majesty King Birendra (then Crown Prince) to the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as by a large number of high ranking officials of His Majesty's Government of Nepal, from the Chairman of the council of Ministers Dr. Tulsi Giri in 1963, to the foreign Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista in 1967 and his successor Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandary in 1969 demonstrated the lively interest felt on the part of Nepal in maintaining good relations with the Federal Republic of Germany.

Likewise, visits by Walter Scheel, then Minister for Economic cooperation and later President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Jurgen Warnke, then Minister for Economic cooperation 1986 and Mr. Hans Klein, present Minister for Economic Cooperation in July 1987 have indeed deepened the bonds of mutual cooperation and understanding between the two countries.

The state visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to the Federal Republic of Germany from October 20 to 25, 1986 has further strengthened the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries. The State visit has established a close understanding and personal rapport between His Majesty the King and President Richard von Weizasacker and Chancellor Helmut Kohl. It has added a new dimension in the Nepal-Federal Republic of Germany relations.

The state visit of their Majesties the first one of its kind after His Majesty's accession to the throne in 1972, is another milestone in the history of amicable relations between the two countries. This visit has resulted in furthering Federal Republic of Germany's interest in cooperating Nepal in her development efforts and has created a positive atmosphere to still further cooperation in accordance with the aspiration of Nepalese people.

During the state visit on 20 th October 1986, Nepalese Foreign Minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhayay and Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany signed a treaty concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments on behalf of their respective Governments. The signing of this treaty is likely to intensify economic cooperation between the two countries and create favorable conditions for investments by nationals and companies for either state in the territory of the other state. It may also likely to stimulate private sector's initiative and to increase the prosperity of both nations.

Soon after the successful state visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl paid an official visit to the kingdom of Nepal from July 19 to 21, 1987. This visit of Chancellor Kohl to Nepal has brought two countries further close to each other. A new Nepalese-Federal Republic of Germany agreement on financial cooperation was signed during this visit. Chancellor Kohl was accompanied by Federal Economic Cooperation Minister Mr. Hans Klein, and large number of businessmen, industrialist and journalists. This visit has significantly contributed towards deepening of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Nepal and Federal Republic of Germany have no problems and irritants at political level. The two countries practice a policy based on international cooperation, the safeguarding of independence and national dignity and mutual respect. There is complete agreement between the two countries as regards the special importance attached to development of the third world within the framework of all-embracing peace guarantees. Both Kathmandu and Bomm see the effort to bring greater economic and social stability to that part of the world as an important mission.

Nepal sees in the Federal Republic of Germany an important element in the West-East dialogue and in relations between the industrialized and the developing countries. The Federal Republic of Germany welcomes Nepal's active role in the United Nations Organization and its support for the principles of genuine non-alignment.

Far-reaching unanimity and identity of both countries interests are evident both in endeavors to intensify the North-South dialogue and attempts to narrow the economic disparity between the industrialized and the developing countries as well as in the long-standing cooperation at bilateral level in the development policy sphere.

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the main donors of external development assistance to Nepal and is a member of the Nepal Aid Group which coordinates the activities of Western donor-countries.

The two countries also foster their good bilateral contacts globally (cooperation in multilateral bodies such as the United Nations, the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank). Nepal Federal Republic of Germany's relations have stood on the sound footing, following state visit of their Majesties to the Federal Republic of Germany and Federal Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl visit to Nepal. The relations have a bright future for the people of both countries.

(Text courtesy from the author's book on Nepal-Federal Republic of German Relations prospect and retrospect printed in 1987-Ed.)

The German Capital: Berlin

Berlin is situated in north-eastern Germany. Berlin is both a city and a Land. With its population of 3.5 million, Berlin is the largest city in Germany. Together with the state of Brandenburg which surrounds it, this region constitutes the second largest metropolitan area in Germany, second only to Rhein-Ruhr region.

With reunification in 1990, Berlin again became the capital of Germany. On June 21st, 1991 the German Bundestag voted to move the government and parliament from Bonn to Berlin. After moving from Bonn to Berlin, parliament and government then reassumed work in 1999.

Moving

The ministries and the parliament with a total of 12,000 civil servants were impacted by the move. About a third of these positions were merely swapped, because as a countermove, approximately 4000 personnel from 16 Berlin federal agencies moved to the Rhein. With the exception of a few buildings required for extra capacity, many ministries moved into older buildings belonging to the government, many dating from the turn of the century, although a few from the time of the National Socialist era/regime. The chancellor has a temporary office in the former DDR state council building. The new office of the chancellor is one of the few constructions being built especially for the move. Estimated completion is the end of 2001.

Complete moving costs will total 20 billion marks. Of that sum, 8 billions are for new construction and renovations, and about 3 billion marks as compensation for Bonn. Accompanying the move of the government and parliament to Berlin are most of the 154 accredited foreign agencies in Bonn. Many countries are returning to their prior locations on Paris Square or to the old diplomatic quarter near the edge of the Tiergarten park.

Berlin is the largest university city in Germany. Its motors of innovation are three universities, 14 institutions of higher education, 250 private and public research facilities as well as innumerable technology companies. Particularly companies from innovative sectors are profiting from the expansion of the Berlin research environment - information, communication and biotechnology companies, as well as companies involved in transportation, medicine and environmental technology.

Approximately a third of the world's 50 largest companies as well as 75 of the 100 largest companies in Germany have invested in Berlin. International companies such as Coca-Cola, Sony or Samsung, but also traditional Berlin companies such as Siemens, Schering and Gillette are taking advantage of Berlin's location. Approximately a third of the world's 50 largest companies as well as 75 of the 100 largest companies in Germany have invested in Berlin. International companies such as Coca-Cola, Sony or Samsung, but also traditional Berlin companies such as Siemens, Schering and Gillette are taking advantage of Berlin's location.

As a regional market with the purchasing power of approximately six million people, metropolitan Berlin is an ideal test market and a good launching site for developing markets in Germany as well as in middle and eastern Europe. In the last 10 years, about 130,000 new jobs were created in the service sector. Berlin is number one among German convention cities with visitors totalling 1.3 million annually. The traditionally strong media sector also confirms the dynamics of this city.

Berlin's transport systems were completely modernised after 1989. The federal government, Land Berlin and the German Railway invested 10 billion Euro in expanding the rail infrastructure. Berlin has three airports. A 62,000 kilometre long glass-fibre network helps provide excellent resources for the information, communication and media industries.

German
Foreign policy in the age of Globalization

Germany is one of the advocates of appropriate reform to the international organizations, for which there are good reasons: First, no other comparable country is so deeply embedded in multilateral cooperation in political, economic and military terms. Second, German Foreign policy takes into account the far greater responsibility which Germany has now assumed on the international stage at the request of the world community: In this context Germany is pushing for a comprehensive reform of the UN’s organizational structures, and this includes its wish to be awarded a permanent seat in the Security Council .

Moreover, for German Foreign policy the formation of an independent identity for European security constitutes a key contribution to strengthening and stabilizing the European pillar of NATO. When in December 2004 NATO transferred leadership of the troops (which have since operated as EUFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina to the  ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) and the Europeans thus for the first time endeavored to control a flashpoint using their own financing and resources, this marked a new stage in the transformation of the transatlantic alliance.

The Federal Government first made use of its new scope for Foreign policy that Germany gained as a consequence of the restoration of a unified state in 1990 after the turn of the millennium – even if this was not initially obvious: The German statement on the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 was not only prompt, Chancellor Schröder went further than any of his predecessors and promised America Germany’s “unconditional solidarity”. Needless to say, the Federal Government also supported the decision by NATO on October 2, 2001 to invoke for the first time in its history Article 5 of its charter. The subsequent deployment of German soldiers to the Hindukush involved a political component: the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan and the agreements reached there on the legal and political basis for a transitional government for Afghanistan, and it had a military side to it. Thus, since January 2002, the German Armed Forces have made a strong contribution to ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan. In total, since the beginning of the decade up to 10,000 German soldiers have been posted to the various international missions – despite the fact that the German Armed Forces have by no means completed their transformation from a territorial army to armed forces ready for flexible deployment. This willingness to shoulder wide-ranging responsibilities was also a decisive argument when it came to justifying why Germany did not take part in the campaign in Iraq in 2003. The fact that German Foreign policy took this situation into account and set sovereign priorities sheds some light on the new role into which the country has grown.

At the same time, German Foreign policy promotes the foundation of civil society structures; it is committed to helping overcome natural disasters, asserting democratic and human rights, and to the war on terror. In fact, Germany also uses its new role to assert and secure human rights, peace, and dialog – both in the Middle East and in other regions of conflict. The fact that Germany can live this role stems from the trust established and carefully nurtured over the decades. German politics is measured not against the yardstick of the destructive apparatus of the Third Reich, but against its achievements in development and integration. If they had not realized its abilities here, the Allies would not have let the Germans “go free”. Germany has shown that it knows how to assume such responsibilities.