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BERLIN, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Germany ought to step up its management on the worldwide stage and liberalize its arms exports coverage, together with to think about sending weapons to Ukraine, the longer term chief of the Munich Safety Convention, Christoph Heusgen, mentioned in an interview.
Germany has come beneath fireplace for refusing to ship weapons to Ukraine, in contrast to different Western allies, amid fears of a contemporary Russian invasion. Germany has a long-standing coverage of not exporting weapons to conflict zones rooted partly in its bloody Twentieth-century historical past and ensuing pacifism.
Heusgen mentioned that Berlin was displaying political management within the disaster – for instance reviving the Normandy format of talks with representatives from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany.
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However Germany ought to take into account exporting weapons so Ukraine might defend itself, too, mentioned Heusgen, the previous senior German diplomat who will take over the MSC on the finish of this yr’s occasion on Feb. 18-20. Utilizing historical past as an excuse was not acceptable and even logical, he mentioned.
“We make it too straightforward on ourselves, to say now we have all the time achieved it that method so we proceed,” he instructed Reuters. “We have now to have a debate a couple of extra energetic German position in overseas coverage, and safety coverage and (arms exports coverage) is a part of it.”
Heusgen mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to be stoking a disaster with Ukraine to spice up his reputation again residence however didn’t but seem determined to behave.
“He’s trying intently how we are going to react,” Heusgen mentioned.
Germany, the second largest donor to the United Nations, had already proven extra overseas coverage management beneath former Chancellor Angela Merkel, mentioned Heusgen – for instance, being extra energetic in Africa.
Requested if Europe ought to maintain troops stationed in Mali, he mentioned the West wanted to attract classes from the Afghanistan debacle and give attention to supporting governments that revered good governance and human rights.
Europe should set an ultimatum to Mali’s authorities, he mentioned: both it begins implementing a earlier peace take care of northern tribes and arranged democratic elections “or we exit.”
(This story was refiled to make it “Germany,” not “German,” in headline)
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Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh; Enhancing by Leslie Adler
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