Current Challenges in the Middle East Region: Which role can Egypt play?

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,



Thank you very much indeed for giving me the opportunity to speak here
at the Council for Foreign Affairs. I am very happy to be back in Cairo
again. I have met many friends once more.



Our two countries have been united in friendship for many years. Many
German holidaymakers visit your country. We have twinning arrangements
between towns, cooperation between universities, societies and
associations. Many German visitors have seen the exhibition ?Egypt?s
sunken Treasures? in different German cities. The trade relations
between our two countries are developing well.



You have asked me to talk about the theme: ?Current challenges in the
Middle East region: Which role can Egypt play?? It is wise for an
outside politician to show restraint when offering advice. First of all
he should ask himself which contribution he can make and how.
Nevertheless, I would still like to address the question, in this case
from two directions.



Egypt plays an outstanding role in the Arab world in political,
historical, cultural and economic terms. In the Middle East conflict,
Egypt has repeatedly played a constructive and mediating role. In this
context I will mention just two instances: Israel?s withdrawal from the
Gaza strip and the Syrian-Lebanese crisis. The peace treaty between
Israel and Egypt was exemplary. Egypt also accompanied the
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations as mediator, and the country regularly
provides a seat for negotiations. Egypt endeavours to have a positive
influence on the conflict in Palestine. Since 1990, Egypt has taken up
a leading role again in the Arab League. I would like to thank you for
these and many other activities.



In recent years President Mubarak has succeeded in securing Egypt?s
position as an important power of the Arab world. And Egypt?s position
between western ties and Arab-Islamic solidarity made it into a
reliable partner in the Middle East peace process.



Despite crises and setbacks, Egypt?s political system has remained one
of the most stable in the Middle East since 1952. In Egypt, the
population enjoys greater independence. There is more leeway and
diversity than in other states in the region. Further bold reforms
would improve the country?s standing even more. Greater freedom and
democracy do not counteract efforts to achieve greater inner stability
and outward trust.



For several years now Egypt has been involved in a phase of economic
transformation. The country is progressively opening up to the private
sector and foreign investors. And economic figures are displaying
correspondingly positive developments, towards which the European
Union?s Barcelona process also made quite a considerable contribution.



Egypt began the peace process with Israel at a very early stage. In
addition to peace, the route towards economic development was opened.
Egypt acts as a good example, showing that peaceful and social
development are only possible on a mutual basis.



Like the countries in the Middle East, Europe wants peace. We need
progress in Iraq. And developments in Lebanon, or the conflict between
Syria and Israel, are of utmost importance to both our regions. But the
main priority is creating a balance between Israelis and Palestinians.
We will not have constant and stable peace unless we work together to
find a fair and sustainable solution to this conflict. The most
important basic condition for this is the renunciation of force by all
sides. Dialogue can only take place in a non-violent environment.



In my opinion, progress in solving the conflicts would make a decisive
contribution towards creating regional stability, towards effectively
combating terrorism and towards the effective control and disarmament
of weapons of mass destruction.



Germany and Europe learned the following lesson during the Cold War
era: If you want to, you can engage in dialogue beyond ideological
barriers. Exclusion of the opponent does not solve conflicts. Orderly
relations are only possible within regional security structures.
Regular regulations can only be improved within the scope of regional
security structures. I am deeply convinced that this offers a way for
the Middle East as well.



It is a well-proven fact that, in the final instance, the local
conflicting parties have to negotiate directly in order to reach
sustainable solutions. And this takes place in the awareness that they
have no alternative but to engage in the peace process.



But there is still a long way to go. Nevertheless: in comparison to the
years of longstanding deadlock, the progress made over the past few
month is very heartening. We need patience. We must not allow ourselves
to be discouraged by setbacks and provocations.



The other aspect of my speech is: Europe has to continue improving and
rearranging its relations with the Arab-Islamic region. Since he took
office, Germany?s foreign minister has visited the region on many
occasions. He was in the conflict area during and after the war between
Hezbollah and Israel. He listened and ? when requested ? he conveyed
messages. He visited Damascus. Germany convincingly persuaded the
participants to revive the Middle East quartet. Egypt is an important
partner for consultation in this context. But Egypt?s advice is also
needed in other questions.



In recent years, conditions have changed considerably in the region.
This applies to the societies, the internal structures and external
relations. These changes are superimposed by wars and unsolved
conflicts. Globalisation creates boundless immediacy. In particular,
new political groups, alliances and forms have developed. Some are even
talking about a new confessional delineation and hegemony. This is why
I have questions and why I am asking for your advice: How should Europe
behave towards ?political Islam?? Are there chances for dialogue? Can
talks only take place once specific rules have been accepted? Or should
rules be the outcome of talks? Does political Islam in itself exist at
all? Are European concepts of order and values transferable? Which
basic values are indispensible? Which role does participation in the
economy, in society and in politics play? Is economic autonomy without
political freedom desirable and possible? And finally: Are the
categories of Shiite and Sunni Islam at all useful for the political
debate?



With this in mind, I return to the question which was first asked of me: Which role can Egypt play?



Thank you all very much for listening. I am looking forward to an interesting and fruitful discussion.