Schroeder's visit highlights German interest in Africa

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Schroeder's visit highlights German interest in Africa

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder ended his six-day swirling visit across Africa on Saturday, which highlights Berlin's increasing interest in the African continent.

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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder ended his six-day swirling visit across Africa on Saturday, which highlights Berlin's increasing interest in the African continent.

The first visit by Schroeder in his six years in office took him to Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. The chancellor is already preceded by his deputy and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in his visit to Africa last October and will be followed by President Johannes Rau in March.

Besides political talks with his hosts, Schroeder delivered a keynote speech on Germany's policy toward Africa at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, discussed anti-terrorism cooperation with Kenyan authorities in Nairobi, toured a factory of German investment in Pretoria, and opened a German-subsidized international peace-keeping training center in Accra.

Schroeder also accorded countries visited except South Africa with debt relief or increased aid assistance.

Germany's increasing interest in Africa is no coincidence. It reflects the attention that major western countries have begun to pay to the continent which is rich in energy and mineral resourcesand with huge economic potential.

Compared with Britain and France, Germany is less handicapped by colonial history. Besides, Berlin's refusal to endorse Washington's military strike against Iraq has also put Germany on a favorable footing in Africa.

In the view of Berlin, the European security cannot be separated from that of Africa. Schroeder said in his speech that "no one can live in security if there is insecurity and strife in the neighborhood."

"State and continental borders are incapable of holding at bay armed conflict, failing states, poverty and underdevelopment as well as epidemics and influxes of refugees," Schroeder said.

Before the trip, a senior German official said, on condition ofanonymity, that Schroeder's visit is related with the European security. Lessons from Afghanistan and Somalia are that phantoms such as terrorism arise from failing states, he said.

Germany cannot leave the task of achieving stability of Africa to its formal colonial powers alone, but as an important European country, it "bears special responsibility," the official said.

Schroeder's visit is also aimed at encouraging political and economic exchanges in Africa. Schroeder called the African Union "an encouraging parallel to the integration process we embarked on in Europe following the Second World War."

Berlin has also enthusiastically supported the AU-sponsored NewPartnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which calls for good governance and self-reliance in administrating state affairs.

The chancellor's visit and offer of generous support to the four countries, which are all participants in the NEPAD programs, is clearly an indication that Germany tends to condition its financial assistance on reforms in Africa.

Finally, the African market, with its huge potential, has strong appeal to the German industry, as shown by a 23-member business delegation that accompanied Schroeder on his trip.

Germany's trade with Africa already totaled 23 billion euros (29.21 billion US dollar) last year, of which 12.3 billion (15.62 billion US dollars) were German exports.

Although exports to Africa account for only 2 percent of Germany's total, its volume of commodities exported to South Africa, the most vigorous economy in the Africa south of Sahara, has doubled in the past 10 years.

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