Germany edition

Westerwelle

The following articles have been tagged with "Westerwelle":

Germany expels four Syrian diplomats

National: 9 Feb 12
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday Germany was expelling four diplomats from the Syrian embassy in Berlin after the arrest of two men suspected of spying on regime opponents. READ »

Syrian spy suspects arrested in Berlin

National: 7 Feb 12
German police arrested two men in Berlin Tuesday accused of spying on opponents of the Syrian regime in raids involving some 70 officers, federal prosecutors said. READ »

Westerwelle hammers China, Russia over veto

National: 5 Feb 12
Germany's foreign minister heaped criticism on Russia and China on Saturday over their veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at ending the violence in Syria, calling it a "veto against the Syrian people." READ »

Westerwelle demands 'urgent' action on Syria

National: 31 Jan 12
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on Tuesday for the UN Security Council to act "urgently" on Syria, telling a Cairo news conference a strong text on the crisis was "absolutely important." READ »

Germany joins European oil embargo against Iran

Politics: 24 Jan 12
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany late on Monday called on Tehran to immediately suspend its nuclear activities after the EU slapped an embargo on Iran's oil exports as part of tough new sanctions. READ »

Westerwelle counters US Europe-bashing

Politics: 21 Jan 12
Germany's foreign minister assured Americans Friday that Europe left socialism behind two decades ago, despite statements to the contrary by Republicans on the US presidential campaign trail. READ »

German victim's body 'recovered from ship'

National: 17 Jan 12
The body of a German man killed on the Costa Concordia cruise ship was found on Tuesday, the Italian media said. Divers have recovered five more victims, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11. READ »

Westerwelle: Germany 'still stands by Greece'

National: 16 Jan 12
Greece and Europe belong together, Germany's foreign minister said Sunday after meeting the debt-crippled country's leaders ahead of a week of tough talks for Athens with its creditors. READ »

German support for new North Africa underlined

Politics: 10 Jan 12
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has thrown strong support behind North Africa’s emerging democracies during an historic visit to Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, saying Germany wants to play a key role in helping them succeed. READ »

Berlin wants 'concrete' nuke action from Iran

National: 2 Jan 12
Germany has called for "concrete and verifiable" action from Iran over its nuclear drive, after Tehran signalled it was willing to resume negotiations with the international community. READ »

German fury at raids on groups in Cairo

Politics: 30 Dec 11
Germany has demanded that non-political organizations working in Egypt including the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, be allowed to continue their work unhindered – after police raided the offices of 17 such groups in Cairo. READ »

The Local's top five politics stories of 2011

Politics: 30 Dec 11
For a country where politics sometimes seems to move at a glacial pace, Germany was practically a hotbed of drama in 2011. We’ve pulled together our favourite five political stories of the year. READ »

Berlin politician attacked in own home

Politics: 28 Dec 11
A Berlin local politician active in the Syrian opposition was attacked by two men in his home, police said Tuesday, in a case the German foreign ministry said it was following closely. READ »

Popularity for FDP plummets further

Politics: 21 Dec 11
Support for Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP) has slumped to a dismal two percent in the wake a high-profile resignation, according to an opinion poll released on Wednesday. READ »

Germany praises Czech leader Havel, dead at 75

National: 18 Dec 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed the late former Czech president Vaclav Havel on Sunday as a "great European" who fought tirelessly for freedom on the continent. READ »

Euro-rebels fail to derail FDP in high-stakes vote

Politics: 16 Dec 11
Rebels in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partner, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), failed Friday to win party backing in opposing the eurozone's permanent bailout fund, much to the relief of leader Philipp Rösler. READ »

Berlin hails 'turning point' in Afghan war

National: 15 Dec 11
During a Bundestag debate on the German army’s future mission in Afghanistan Thursday, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said a planned draw-down of troops heralded a “turning point” in the ten-year NATO-led war in Afghanistan. READ »

FDP turns to another 'boygroup' member

Politics: 15 Dec 11
Germany's Free Democratic Party has picked 38-year-old Patrick Döring as its new general secretary, following the abrupt departure of Christian Lindner. Critics say it’s the last chance for party leader Philipp Rösler. READ »

Germany keeps door open for outcast Brits

National: 10 Dec 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is still holding out hope that Britain will join the new European fiscal union – which so far comprises 23 of the 27 European Union member states. READ »

Afghan conference starts in Bonn without Pakistan

National: 5 Dec 11
The Bonn conference on Afghanistan to seek a way forward after the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014 brought around 100 national delegations and aid organisations together on Monday. READ »

Karzai slams Pakistan for boycotting Bonn talks

National: 4 Dec 11
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused Pakistan of undermining negotiations with the ban by boycotting an international conference on Afghanistan starting Monday in Bonn. READ »

Britain and Germany urge EU to isolate Iran

National: 1 Dec 11
Britain and Germany called for sanctions to isolate Iran as EU foreign ministers considered tough measures against Tehran amid concerns over its nuclear programme. READ »

Berlin recalls Iran envoy over UK embassy attack

Politics: 30 Nov 11
Germany on Wednesday temporarily recalled its ambassador to Iran, over what it called the "unacceptable" storming of the British embassy in Tehran by protesters. READ »

Merkel 'sorry' Pakistan to boycott Afghan meeting

Politics: 29 Nov 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she was "very sorry" about Pakistan's announced boycott of a Bonn conference next week on the future of Afghanistan and would try to convince it to attend. READ »

Germany backs peace talks with the Taliban

National: 27 Nov 11
Germany's foreign and defence ministers called Sunday for the Taliban to be included in Afghanistan peace talks, ahead of a major international conference for the war-ravaged country next month. READ »

Westerwelle condemns Middle East violence

National: 21 Nov 11
Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle and his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata called for an end to violence in Syria and Egypt after talks on key European issues in Rome Sunday. READ »

Westerwelle prepares for Afghan conference

Politics: 19 Nov 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was in Kabul on Saturday for talks with President Hamid Karzai before a key international conference in Bonn on Afghanistan's future. READ »

Neo-Nazi terrorists compiled target list

National: 16 Nov 11
A neo-Nazi terror group responsible for 10 murders was apparently planning political assassinations. President Wulff announced he will meet with the victims’ relatives amid growing concerns about damage to Germany’s reputation abroad. READ »

Germany welcomes changes in Rome

National: 13 Nov 11
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that she is expecting the formation of a new Italian government to have a stabilizing effect on the eurozone. READ »

Nuke report angers Germany and its allies

National: 9 Nov 11
Germany and its allies have angrily lashed out against Iran after the UN nuclear watchdog published its harshest report yet on Tehran's nuclear programme, saying it had sought to build atomic warheads. READ »

Erdogan criticizes German attitude to Turks

National: 2 Nov 11
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Germany’s attitude to its Turkish minority on his arrival in Berlin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a "guest worker" agreement between the two countries. READ »

Germany offers help finding Libyan weapons

National: 1 Nov 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has offered to help Libya follow a United Nations resolution ratified on Monday that obliges the country’s new government to control and destroy small arms and chemical weapons. READ »

Qaddafi son's Munich mansion in limbo

Society: 1 Nov 11
A mansion formerly lived in by Muammar Qaddafi youngest son, killed in April, is in limbo in Munich, partly because his eccentric revamp of the interior could make the luxury property difficult to sell. READ »

Germany offers help to Turkish quake victims

National: 24 Oct 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed sympathy for victims of the Turkish earthquake expected to have killed at least 1,000 people and left many more injured or homeless on Sunday. READ »

Merkel reins in EU weekend summit hopes

National: 23 Oct 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to dampen expectations over the outcome of a European Union summit on Sunday, saying the weekend meeting was not due to result in any firm decisions on solutions to the eurozone debt crisis. READ »

Merkel sees bigger Greek debt write down

Politics: 21 Oct 11
Chancellor Angela Merkel has told her party there will likely be an increase in the write down of Greek debt, while trying to play down reports of disagreements with France over the European debt crisis. READ »

Berlin welcomes departure of Qaddafi

Politics: 21 Oct 11
The death of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and the accompanying hope that the country could now begin a new era, has been welcomed by German politicians – although many regretted the fact that he will never now face justice. READ »

Details emerge of BND spy who aided Shalit deal

National: 18 Oct 11
The head of German intelligence service Ernst Uhrlau last week indicated that his agents helped secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinians. One spy’s role was particularly crucial. READ »

Westerwelle praises Poland's 'vote for Europe'

Politics: 10 Oct 11
Germany on Monday welcomed the outcome of the Polish general election, calling it a "vote for Europe" after the campaign was marred by an opposition leader's anti-German tirade. READ »

Germany disappointed as UN fails to censure Syria

National: 5 Oct 11
Germany on Wednesday lamented the failure of the United Nations Security Council to agree a resolution on a bloody crackdown in Syria that has left 2,700 dead, saying it had undermined the body's authority. READ »

Westerwelle praises Danish border re-opening

National: 4 Oct 11
The German government has praised Denmark’s decision to scrap controversial new border control measures that had left its neighbours in uproar. READ »

RTL reviewing security after Kurds storm studio

National: 29 Sep 11
German television network RTL is reviewing its security arrangements after a group of Kurdish separatist sympathizers stormed one of their Cologne studios and staged a sit-in protest. READ »

Westerwelle repeats call for Mideast peace

National: 27 Sep 11
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle reiterated Germany's opposition to the Palestinian statehood bid in a speech to the United Nations on Monday, and called on both sides to follow the Quartet timetable. READ »

Most Germans unhappy with squabbling government coalition

Politics: 21 Sep 11
Germans are unhappy with the government, with a full 83 percent saying they are dissatisfied by the poor cooperation between the parties of the governing centre-right coalition according to a poll. READ »

'The failure of the FDP is a further weakening of Merkel's coalition'

Analysis & Opinion: 19 Sep 11
Germany's Free Democrats are unrepentant after taking an electoral battering in the Berlin state poll on Sunday. The Local’s media roundup explores the implications for Chancellor Merkel's fractious coalition. READ »

Germany commemorates victims of 9/11 attacks

National: 11 Sep 11
German President Christian Wulff commemorated the victims of September 11, 2001 at an ecumenical service in Berlin, the first of a series of events to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks. READ »

Foreign Ministry confirms deaths of aid workers

National: 7 Sep 11
Two German development workers who have been missing for three weeks in Afghanistan were confirmed dead by the Foreign Ministry late on Tuesday. READ »

Aid to Syria continues despite sanctions

National: 5 Sep 11
Despite far-reaching sanctions against the Syrian government for its brutal crackdown against a civilian uprising, Germany is still offering development aid to the Middle East country. The Green party has expressed reservations. READ »

Northeastern state election gets underway

Politics: 4 Sep 11
Voters go to the polls in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's home state Sunday, with surveys showing her conservatives are likely to cling on to power after a campaign dominated by the euro debt crisis. READ »

Westerwelle: Germany 'very worried' about flotilla row

National: 3 Sep 11
Germany joined top diplomats in piling pressure on Turkey and Israel to make up Saturday, after Ankara's decision to expel the Jewish state's ambassador in retaliation for last year's deadly Gaza flotilla raid. READ »

Berlin to boycott UN anti-racism event

National: 3 Sep 11
German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle announced that Berlin will skip the United Nations' Durban anti-racism conference, with an eye toward anti-Israel remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the 2009 summit. READ »

Germany's foreign policy zombie

Analysis & Opinion: 2 Sep 11
Unloved, ineffective and on his political deathbed, Guido Westerwelle has become a foreign policy liability for Germany, writes The Local's Marc Young. READ »

Germany greets new Libyan ambassador

National: 1 Sep 11
Germany said Wednesday that it had recognized a new Libyan ambassador from the National Transitional Council opposed to Muammar Qaddafi. READ »

Berlin resets Libya policy

Politics: 29 Aug 11
Germany sought to turn a new leaf on Monday by stressing its readiness to help with reconstruction and aid in Libya after failing to provide military assistance to the campaign against Muammar Qaddafi. READ »

FDP leadership backs beleaguered Westerwelle

Politics: 28 Aug 11
Guido Westerwelle’s Free Democratic Party is sticking with him, despite speculation that the party wanted to replace Germany's beleaguered foreign minister. READ »

Merkel praises NATO for Libya campaign

National: 27 Aug 11
Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended Germany’s decision not to participate in NATO's military campaign in Libya, but praised Berlin's allies for helping oust dictator Muammar Qaddafi. READ »

Defence officials split over troops for Libya

National: 26 Aug 11
Defence Ministry officials gave conflicting views Friday about whether Germany will need to take part in a peacekeeping mission to stabilize Libya after fighting ends. There was also rare German praise for the NATO effort against Qaddafi. READ »

Kohl slams Germany's 'unreliable' foreign policy

Politics: 24 Aug 11
Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl on Wednesday offered a blistering assessment of Germany’s current foreign policy, saying the country had become an erratic and unreliable partner to its closest allies. READ »

Mountain climbers go missing in Afghanistan

National: 23 Aug 11
Fears are growing that two German men who went missing several days ago after setting off to climb snow-capped mountains in war-torn Afghanistan could have been kidnapped, officials said Tuesday. READ »

Media roundup: Libya after Qaddafi

Analysis & Opinion: 23 Aug 11
As the end of Libyan despot Muammar Qaddafi's reign nears, commentators in The Local’s media roundup examine what’s next for the North African country and the impact of Germany’s decision to break with its NATO allies. READ »

Westerwelle plays down engagement in Libya

National: 23 Aug 11
Although Germany is eager to help Libya after the ousting of dictator Muammar Qaddafi, discussion of any potential engagement in the North African country is premature, said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Monday evening. READ »

Rösler tells his party: 'Don't panic!'

Politics: 14 Aug 11
Philipp Rösler, head of Germany's pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), called on his party members to stay calm in the face of catastrophic opinion poll figures. READ »

Germany rolls over Egyptian debt into aid

Politics: 12 Aug 11
Germany will roll over €240 million ($343 million) in Egyptian debt into development aid in a deal approved by both sides, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Friday. READ »

Germany demands UN meeting on Syria

Politics: 1 Aug 11
Germany has called for the UN Security Council to meet urgently on Monday to deal with the Syrian government crackdown on demonstrators that reportedly left 80 people dead on Sunday. READ »

FDP wallows at record low despite shakeup

Politics: 27 Jul 11
Philipp Rösler's leadership of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) has failed to lift the party's fortunes, with a new poll showing support sinking back to a record low of 3 percent. READ »

Germans court Syrian uprising amid crackdown

Politics: 25 Jul 11
German diplomats have met with Syrian opposition figures in Damascus and Berlin in recent weeks as the EU demands an end to a crackdown on protesters, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday. READ »

Germany offers to loan Libyan rebels €100 mln

Politics: 24 Jul 11
Germany said Sunday it was making available to the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) up to €100 million ($144 million) in loans for civilian and humanitarian purposes. READ »

Iran demands Germany arrests rebel leader

National: 24 Jul 11
Iran on Saturday called on Berlin to put on trial the leader of a Kurdish rebel movement, Rahman Haji Ahmadi, who reportedly lives in Germany, the official IRNA news agency reported. READ »

Germany sends condolences to Oslo

National: 23 Jul 11
Germany's political leaders were united in dismay and grief following the two attacks in Norway that led to over 90 deaths. President Christian Wulff sent a telegram of sympathy to his counterpart King Harald. READ »

Russian envoy slams retraction of Putin's prize

Politics: 18 Jul 11
Russia's ambassador to Berlin on Monday blasted the decision to cancel plans to award a private democracy prize to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after a storm of protest in Germany. READ »

Westerwelle calls for closer Turkey ties to EU

National: 4 Jul 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is calling for deeper integration with Turkey, arguing that the country deserves greater support as it makes a bid to join the European Union. READ »

Libyan rebels respect German military inaction

National: 30 Jun 11
Libyan rebel leader Mahmud Jibril said Thursday that he respected Germany's decision not to take part in military action to protect his country's civilians despite international criticism. READ »

Germany blasts proposed EU budget

Politics: 30 Jun 11
Germany on Thursday blasted as "irresponsibly high" the European Commission's proposal for the next 2014-2020 budget, saying it set a poor example during the eurozone debt crisis. READ »

Berlin treads China human rights tightrope

Politics: 28 Jun 11
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has offered a bright perspective on human rights in China, saying that long-term progress was possible despite some short-term speed bumps such as the jailing of artist Ai Weiwei. READ »

Germany to supply bombs for Libya mission

National: 28 Jun 11
Germany will supply bombs and weapons technology to NATO for the military intervention into Libya despite its stated opposition to the mission, according to a media report. READ »

Germany to press China on human rights and artist Ai Weiwei

National: 26 Jun 11
German politicians will address human rights issues at a joint meeting with Chinese officials this week, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Sunday, including the conditions of artist Ai Weiwei's release from jail. READ »

Conservatives divided over tax cuts

National: 25 Jun 11
Germany's centre-right coalition has announced it is considering middle class tax cuts, but the plans have run into opposition even among Merkel's own conservatives, including the Finance Minster. READ »

Army admits shooting, driving problems

National: 23 Jun 11
The Bundeswehr is in danger of failing its mission in Afghanistan because German soldiers cannot use their weapons, drive their armoured vehicles or take care of their wounded properly, according to classified internal documents. READ »

Ai Weiwei's release must be first step says Merkel

National: 23 Jun 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that China's release of dissident artist Ai Weiwei on bail must be just a first step, calling for the charges against him to be clearly explained. READ »

Westerwelle attacks plan for Danish border checks

Politics: 15 Jun 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle underlined Wednesday Berlin's objections to Danish plans for permanent customs checks at their internal EU border, after talks with his Danish counterpart. READ »

Westerwelle warns of Mideast peace problems

Politics: 14 Jun 11
Berlin believes unilateral moves – such as declaring Palestinian independence – would be "very counterproductive" to the Middle East peace process, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned on Tuesday. READ »

Westerwelle makes surprise trip to Libya

Politics: 13 Jun 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle made a surprise trip to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya on Monday. The symbolic trip was kept secret for security reasons. READ »

Berlin to advise against Palestinian state bid

Politics: 11 Jun 11
A high-level German diplomatic mission to the Middle East will try to convince Palestinians next week to drop plans to gain UN recognition for an independent state. READ »

Germany closes embassy in Yemen

National: 4 Jun 11
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle announced Saturday that Germany would close its embassy in Yemen as the strife-torn country slides towards civil war. READ »

Germany in 2011: Economic giant, political dwarf

Analysis & Opinion: 31 May 11
Consigned to minor role at last week’s G8 summit, the economic power Germany is in danger of being sidelined politically, argues Gerd Appenzeller from Der Tagesspiegel. READ »

Iran sparks row by delaying Merkel flight

Politics: 31 May 11
The government of Iran temporarily denied Chancellor Angela Merkel’s plane the right to fly over its territory on her way to India, creating a minor diplomatic incident and angering the German leader. READ »

Merkel praises Obama's Mideast speech

Politics: 20 May 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed on Friday a speech by US President Barack Obama calling for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal based on 1967 borders, calling it "very important." READ »

De Maizière says Germany must pull its weight abroad militarily

National: 19 May 11
German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière Thursday said his country should be prepared to pull its weight militarily abroad, taking part in international operations even when Berlin's interests are not directly at stake. READ »

Lahm says gay footballers better off in the closet

Sport: 18 May 11
Germany football captain and Bayern Munich star Philipp Lahm has advised gay professional footballers against outing themselves, in an interview with German celebrity magazine Bunte. READ »

Government threatened with anti-EU revolt

Politics: 14 May 11
Up to 50 MPs in Germany's ruling coalition may vote against the European Financial Stabilization Mechanism (EFSM), according to a eurosceptic MP in the government's junior partner, the Free Democratic Party. READ »

Westerwelle to cling on as foreign minister

Politics: 13 May 11
Despite simmering anger among his Free Democrats, Guido Westerwelle appears likely to keep his job as Germany's foreign minister after the party’s new leaders sought to smooth over tensions at their annual conference on Friday. READ »

Germany slams Denmark over border control

Politics: 12 May 11
Germany has slammed Denmark’s unilateral decision to reintroduce tighter border controls, warning that it breaches Europe’s cherished Schengen agreement allowing free movement. READ »

Philipp Rösler: From Vietnamese orphanage to vice chancellor

Politics: 10 May 11
Philipp Rösler, Germany's incoming economy minister and vice chancellor, is a qualified heart surgeon who was born in war-torn South Vietnam and moved to Europe after being adopted as an infant from an orphanage. READ »

Rösler takes Economics Ministry in reshuffle

Politics: 10 May 11
Philipp Rösler, Germany’s health minister, will take over the Economics Ministry it was announced on Tuesday, as he prepares to lead the pro-business Free Democratic Party. READ »

Westerwelle warns Syria of tighter EU sanctions

National: 10 May 11
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned Syria on Tuesday that it would face tighter European Union sanctions if it continued its brutal crackdown against anti-government protests. READ »

Free Democrats spin personnel carrousel

Politics: 10 May 11
Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle was tipped on Tuesday to take over the parliamentary group of Germany's beleaguered Free Democrats, allowing incoming FDP boss Philipp Rösler to inherit the key economy portfolio. READ »

Free Democrats losing members, money

Politics: 5 May 11
Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP), Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, is reportedly losing members and revenue. READ »

Germany on high alert after bin Laden death

National: 2 May 11
The United States embassy as well as American military bases in Germany are on high alert to the risk of terrorist reprisals after President Barack Obama announced late Sunday that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden had been killed. READ »

Germany dubious on Palestinian unity deal

Politics: 28 Apr 11
Germany has joined Israel and the United States in expressing deep scepticism about the reconciliation between former rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, declaring the latter too radical and violent for a peace agreement. READ »

La Belle victims ask for Qaddafi money

National: 23 Apr 11
Victims of the 1986 La Belle Berlin disco bombing have called on the German government to use Muammar Qaddafi’s confiscated fortune to compensate those hurt and killed in his terrorist attacks. READ »

Today's most read Today's most commented