Germany's Growing Reputation in the Middle East

Joschka Fischer is a welcomed guest in the Arab world. Regarded as a man who grasps the problems of the Middle East in their full depth and complexity, when Joschka turns up, there are great expectations.

It is not so much Fischer as a person or his particular brand of anti-Hawkish politics which is the reason for his popularity, but the deep-rooted wish in many Arab countries for an alternative: Both the British and the French were colonial powers here, the Russians acted as the Soviet Union's military advisors, the U.S. are as an international superpower omnipresent.

Until recently, Gerhard Schröder was literally unknown in the Arab world in contrast to his predecessors Helmut Kohl and Willy Brandt. In the meantime, however, Gerhard Schröder has become a famous face in the Arab world, ever since the German chancellor announced his anti-war stance in the Iraq conflict during the federal election campaign last September. Today, Germany's resistance against the United States' pressure to launch a military attack on Iraq is watched and recognized closely by nearby Arab countries who fear an attack could lead to turmoil in an already unstable region.

High level diplomacy

At the same time, commentators are only too aware that Germany's political leverage vis-à-vis Iraq is strictly limited. With no veto in the UN Security Council, unlike his French colleague, Dominque de Villepin, Joschka Fischer could not stop a war with Iraq.

However, since Germany's joint effort with France to avoid a war in Iraq, many Arab countries regard Germany as less isolated, giving the two countries' push for peace a better chance. And they are well aware of the efforts made by Germany to deepen diplomatic ties in the region in recent months.

Extending the dialog with the Arab world

Post September 11, U.S embassies in the Middle East busied themselves with the stocking up on security staff, counter-terrorist and military experts, while Germany set about extending a dialog with the Muslim world.

It is in Gunther Mulack -- a high ranking diplomat in the German foreign office -- who Fischer hopes and trusts will continue diplomatic efforts in the region. Mulack has spent the past months engaging in diplomatic efforts at the highest level.

"Political cooperation with the Muslim world is an important priority for us," Gunther Mulack told DW-RADIO. "Europe is concentrating less on traditional tools of power, like military might -- which we call gunboat diplomacy -- and is focusing on softer diplomatic methods, like trade links, cultural relationships, education and diplomatic dialogue instead," he says.

On firm ground with the Middle East

Germany's relationship with the Middle East is on firm ground. Next to the USA and Japan, Germany is the third most important trade partner with the Arab world: alone in Egypt, the German government pledged more than €200 million ($216 million) in development aid.

The strength of German ties with Egypt was reiterated too last week, as the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder and Egyptian President, Husni Mubarak demonstrated. The two agreed that war with Iraq was not the preferred option and that U.N weapons inspectors should be given more time to carry out their work.

Still, many people in the Arab world would like to see a stronger political commitment by the Germans in the region, especially in today's practically paralyzed Israeli-Palestinian peace process. However, with Germany's long-standing 'special relationship' with Israel, hopes of reviving the process according to Arab desires, may be nothing more than a pipe dream.