Steinmeier’s balancing act in Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia

Steinmeier’s balancing act in Saudi Arabia

A peace in Syria without Saudi Arabia is hardly possible. Therefore, wooing the foreign Minister of the country, despite blatant human rights Violations. His participation in a cultural festival, however, goes to far.

In his meetings with the Saudi leadership urged the German foreign Minister Steinmeier was in Tehran for a support for Syria agreed to a peace process. The conversations took place prior to the adjournment of the negotiations held in Geneva.

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“All of us here in the Middle East in the last days and last weeks, have met, know that it is not only a political duty but also a moral obligation, to Kill and murder after five years in Syria to stop,” said Steinmeier in Riyadh. “We know how hard the way is, but we must make every effort for the company.”

There are fears that the tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, the peace process can interfere. At the beginning of January was the dispute between the two Regionalmächten escalated. In Saudi Arabia, were 47 executed people, including a Shi’ite Cleric. Shortly thereafter stormed in Tehran and angry protesters to the saudi Arabian Embassy. The result was the breaking off of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

May be a dictators party?

Together with the Saudi Arabian king Salman opened Steinmeier, a cultural festival in Riyadh. The Opposition had the participation Steinmeier at the Festival because of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia criticized. The Left-Fraktionschefin Sahra Wagenknecht spoke of a “moral Declaration of bankruptcy” and a legitimisation of the “Saudi head-from-dictatorship”. Your colleague Katrin Göring-Eckardt from the Green party says, Steinmeier as suggesting thus a sense of normalcy in relation to Saudi Arabia, where there is no normality could be. Also, the prominent CDU politician had recommended to him, on a participating to without.

Steinmeier defended his controversial visit to the Festival. “This invitation I accepted, because it also offers the possibility, here in Saudi Arabia not only with the foreign Minister but with the entire political leadership of the country to talk,” said the Minister.

In the morning it was Steinmeier in Tehran with Iran’s President Rohani met

Unofficial invitation to Rohani

In the morning it was the German foreign Minister with the Iranian President Hassan Rohani in Tehran met. He had Rohani asked, on his next trip to Europe, also Germany as a destination “with the view to take,” said Steinmeier. “We have agreed about it in conversation.” A formal invitation is not. That would protocolary of Chancellor Angela Merkel or President Joachim Gauck. Steinmeier would have been given orally or in writing, to deliver to can. But he has not done.

Rohani had a few days ago for his first European trip after the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran, and only France and Italy attended and Milliardengeschäfte brought on the way. More trips to Austria and Belgium are up for the summer. That it is from Germany, no invitation to Rohani, in Tehran for the amazement of provided.

cr/kle (dpa, afp)