by Xinhua Writer He Mengshu
BERLIN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Germany's grand coalition government under chancellor Angela Merkel has been ruling Europe's biggest economy for one year. The government has taken a new stance in its foreign relations, which has drawn widespread international attention.
CALLING FOR GREATER ROLL
In last September's general elections, Merkel's conservative bloc of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) proved to be the biggest winner, while the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) landed in the second place.
In December, party leaders of the CDU, CSU and SPD formally signed an agreement to build a grand coalition as in Merkel's 2005-2009 first term.
Only one month later, the newly formed government impressed the world with its clear voice calling for an active German foreign policy.
Addressing top decision-makers from around the world at the opening of the 50th Munich Security Conference, which was held from January 31 to February 2 this year, German President Joachim Gauck said despite domestic debates that more responsibilities would mean more trouble, Germany should do more to guarantee global security.
His remarks were echoed by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"Indifference is not an option for Germany," von der Leyen, Germany's first female defense minister, told the security conference.
"As a major economy and a country of significant size, we have a strong interest in international peace and stability. Given these facts, the federal government is prepared to enhance our international responsibility, "she added.
"Germany is too big to only comment on world politics from the sidelines," said Steinmeier, who returned to the office of foreign affairs after a four-year absence. "Germany must be prepared to become engaged in an earlier and more substantial way."
The new German government had attracted worldwide attention by appealing intensively for a more active approach to foreign policy. This, to a large extent, is regarded as being closely related to Germany's long-standing tradition in foreign relations as well as its growing weight in Europe and the world.
For many decades, German foreign policy was characterized by moderation and restraint. In recent years, however, politicians have begun to rethink Germany's role on international issues in the light of new circumstances of the international situation as well as the country's growing political and economic significance.
"As right as a policy of military restraint may be, it must not be misinterpreted as a hands-off philosophy," said Steinmeier while outlining his foreign policy in an interview with German media.
"We are rightly expected to become involved and to do what we can to address conflicts as early as possible. The big conflicts have moved closer to Europe, with direct effects also being felt in Germany. Whether we like it or not, we do need to bear greater responsibility for security in Europe," the minister told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
SEEKING PUBLIC SUPPORT
Compared with politician's active appeals, a greater German involvement in resolving conflicts, however, has met with skepticism among the German public. Opinion polls showed that a majority of Germans believed that Germany should continue to exercise restraint in the area of foreign policy.
"There is a glaring gap between willingness and expectations that are brought to us from the outside...We have to close the gap," Steinmeier said, noting that taking into account current world crises, an active German foreign policy is not "nice-to-have", but an "existential necessity".
In May, a public discussion series - "Review 2014--A Fresh Look at German Foreign Policy" - was launched by the German Foreign Ministry. With the self-review project, Steinmeier said he wanted set in motion a broad debate in society on the objectives, interests and prospects of Germany's foreign policy.
Academics and prominent figures from home and abroad have presented responses to questions like "What, if anything, is wrong with German foreign policy? What needs to be changed?" and expressed their views on specific German foreign policy issues.
The public is also invited to join the general discussions and comment on expert's articles. In particular, the project hopes to attract the younger generation to Germany's foreign policy with an internet initiative, which publishes not only traditional text contributions, but also includes videos, blogs and social networks.
In addition, a series of events has been held throughout Germany at which representatives of the German foreign ministry debated international issues with members of the public.
"A good and sustainable foreign policy should have broad support," said a project leader while explaining motives of the self-review activities.
A greater role of Germany at the global level is connected to a higher requirement for resources, and a foreign policy with broad support can mobilize all the resources that a society possesses, she noted.
READY FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Major conflicts in 2014, such as the Ukraine crisis and the Islamic State (IS) issue, have provided an international stage where Germany could show its new foreign policy.
The crisis in Ukraine, which began at the end of 2013 when Viktor Yanukovych, then president of Ukraine, suspended preparations for the implementation of an association agreement with the European Union (EU), has continued to brew over the past year.
Amid the prolonged conflict, Russia and Western countries are facing the worst standoff since the end of the Cold War after Russia adopted Crimea in March. Washington and Brussels have imposed waves of sanctions against Moscow.
Germany, a country that has a leading position in the EU and was seen as Russia's most important partner in the West, has been playing a key role in mediating the Ukraine crisis, experts said.
Merkel is known to have discussed the issue many times with world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, emerging more and more as a pivotal leader in helping settle the conflict.
2014 is also a busy year for Steinmeier. The minister has so far paid six visits to Ukraine for meetings with Ukrainian leaders, trying to bring together representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to seek solutions to the crisis through talks and negotiations.
Germany's involvement in the Ukraine crisis is important and has constituted steps forward in reaching agreements between the related parties, experts said.
Since mid-2014, the IS has been posing growing threat in Iraq and the region. The German government views the group also as a threat to Germany's own security, and has joined the international community's efforts to fight against the radical group.
Besides humanitarian aid for refugees in the region, Germany is supporting the Kurds in northern Iraq to halt the advance of the IS by delivering weapons and equipment. In addition, it plans to send troops to Iraq to train the Kurdish fighters.
Germany also plays an active roll in the fight against Ebola, which has claimed thousands of victims in West Africa since its outbreak in the spring.
The German government has provided medical equipment and personnel, promised funds to promote Ebola research and helped with the construction of mobile hospitals, health centers as well as an air bridge in the region affected by the epidemic.
A review of Germany's foreign and security policy over the past year shows that the country was among those that stayed in the forefront in coping with conflicts. Experts believed that the German government is without doubt ready to shoulder more responsibilities in crisis areas around the world, though it is still in the process of shaping its new foreign policy.
