Further news from the German press

 28.03.2008

Author: Julian Tupay

25.03.08

Kosovo
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports a Serbian proposal presented to the UN concerning the future of Kosovo. In this proposal Belgrade acknowledges the UN administration of Kosovo, if the UN agrees to only commission ethnic Serbians to work as police officers, customs and justice officials in the 15% of territory inhabited by Serbs. The UN has said it would review the proposal. Analysts believe this is simply another attempt by Belgrade to secure control over the Serbian dominated territories in the north of Kosovo.

Afghanistan

Dozens of fuel supply have been destroyed in a Taliban attack on a NATO convoy in the Khyber-pass, in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The trucks were reportedly waiting for permission to cross the border when two time-detonated bombs went off and destroyed 38 tankers. More importantly, at least 100 people were injured. Also the usually relatively quiet North witnessed violence, when a convoy of Afghan minesweepers was attacked. 5 of them died as a result. In the Province of Kandahar two US soldiers died when their vehicle ran over a landmine in the middle of a busy street. 30 NATO soldiers have died in Afghanistan so far this year, last year the total was 200.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung writes on the general prospects of the Afghan mission and rests its case on a study conducted by the UK- based Jane’s Information Group. Its country risk-rating allocates to Afghanistan rank three, a much higher one than to Iraq.

The reason why the situation in Iraq appears to be improving while Afghanistan deteriorates is, according to this article, that Iraq has more foreign soldiers per capita (Iraq: 160,000/27 million; Afghanistan: 43,000/32 million) and a better economic perspective due to the abundance of oil. Afghanistan’s economy on the other hand is largely dependent on the illegal opium production. The Afghan government and international relief organizations also protest the lack of financial aid for reconstruction, which, according to these sources, is still up to 50% (depending on the case) short of the promised amount. This study gives clear pointers: more money for reconstruction and more regional equity within the state will contribute greatly to peace and stability.

26.03.08

Kosovo

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the Czech government is stirring into troubled water concerning the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. While the non-partisan foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg pushes for a quick recognition the Christian-democratic KDU-SL demanded a parliamentary debate over the issue. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek is quoted as saying that “if we voted today, Kosovo’s independence would not be recognized”. The Prime Minister showed surprise over the sudden push of the KDU-SL, which compared Kosovo’s independence to the Munich accord, which gave part of the Czech Republic to Hitler Germany, since the KDU-SL has usually been rather ambiguous over foreign policy issues. It is suspected that this initiative has an internal political rather than a foreign policy background, because the Schwarzenberg has antagonized the KDU-SL by opposing the return of Ji Unek, the KDU-SL head, who had been suspected of corruption.

27.03.08

NATO

This issue of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung contains an article on the NATO membership aspirations of Georgia and the Ukraine. Georgia has warned NATO not to succumb to Russian pressure and German wishes and accept Georgia into the MAP. The upcoming summit in Bucharest will be a “litmus-test for NATO and its principals”. Anything less than MAP will not be acceptable to Georgia. That Georgia and the Ukraine will be accepted into the MAP is very unlikely however. Despite strong US lobbying and eastern European interests to the contrary, the western European countries, led by Germany, have strong reservations and will, in all likelihood, not be budged. This is partly due the case to the unresolved territorial dispute Georgia has with Russia and the internal situation of the Ukraine. The strongest cause for this stance is however, most likely, a strong desire by western European nations not to upset Russia too far, with which they desire a strong partnership. Badarske, the Georgian foreign minister compared this potential dithering with the pre-WWII appeasement strategy towards Nazi-Germany. Despite all this Georgia and the Ukraine cannot hope for more than a gesture from the Bucharest summit.

28.03.08

Afghanistan

Three German Soldiers were injured during an attack on a German army patrol near Kundus. The patrol drove into an explosive trap. The explosion was so strong that their vehicle, which was armored to withstand landmines, was thrown on its side. Two of the soldiers suffered severe injuries but are no longer in critical condition. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the Taliban has claimed responsibility.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung uses this incident and projects future options for Afghanistan for hardly a day goes by without attacks on foreign soldiers causing deaths and injuries the German government dithers. It must be clear to anyone that there are only two options to counter the cheap and perfidious tactics of the Taliban. One is to withdraw and the other is to step up effort dramatically. The German government however attempts to evade. Whoever believes that Germany can evade danger by digging into the North is rudely disillusioned by every attack near Kundus. Therefore, who wants to evade Taliban bombs in the North will have to fight them in the south.

postitas: RKK/ICDS blog