10 March 2015 No 6/7 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

Strengthening family farms Interview with Markus Müller, owner of a small farm

The Swiss agricultural policy has em- barked on a course, which hardly com- plies with the guidelines given in the Federal Constitution. The direction pro- posed by the official agricultural policy (AP 2014–2017) breaks the backbone of domestic food production and food sup- ply with healthy natural groceries. The Swiss economy is characterised by an ex- tremely solid and stable structure with a variety of industries and a prevailing share of medium-sized and smaller com-

Content

What can the free trade agreement TTIP accomplish? page 3 The Müller family (picture ma) The crisis in the United States is a panies. These decentralised, small-scale many years ago, that family farms are su- manifestation of decline production and supply structures pro- perior to industrial agriculture in the fight page 4 mote supply security, diversity, innova- against hunger and poverty. Such recom- Water supplies in the Valais in danger tion and a healthy competitive environ- mendation, adapted to Swiss conditions, part 2 ment. We should not underestimate the must be very seriously considered in our pages 5/8 very positive consequences for the pres- part of the world. Documentation: ervation of jobs for Switzerland as an in- In addition, last year the UN year of A conversation with Syrian President dustrial centre and the related security of “Family Farming” was celebrated, and Bashar al-Assad income. Without earned income by work in particular Swiss major supermarket pages I–VII and production, an economy gets into chains were busy adverting by using idyl- trouble quite quickly, not rarely leading lic pictures of beautiful farms and fam- Do unilateral sanctions violate human to unwanted or even malicious dependen- ilies embedded in nature. There is no rights? cies. This security of earnings applies to question that we need a well-mixed de- page 9 all industrial branches including the local centralised structure of food production Europa and Russia – who wants war, farmers. Here, modern policy commits a and supply in our country. Our times are who wants peace? sin by creating a climate of existential times of unrest so that a largely secured page 10 threat for the farmers under wrong aus- supply of food from local production must “Putin is the perfect devil for the US pices (global competitiveness, globalisa- have first priority in our state and social and NATO” tion, free trade). For years, especially the politics. It is an essential contribution to page 11 smaller and medium-sized family farms strengthen our country’s sovereignty and have been struggling to survive. It makes must be promoted as such. Agricultural corporations appropri- ate the fertile farmlands of Ukraine you think twice that this struggle was de- We have asked Markus Müller, who man- page 12 liberately created on the part of politics, ages a medium-sized family farm, some especially the technocrats in the Feder- questions about the current situation of A visit to the Astrid Lindgren special al Office for Agriculture (FOAG). With Swiss family farms. school in Weisswasser regard to the so-called “export capacity page 13/14 and competitiveness” the local agricul- Current Concerns: Mr Müller, you are Meetings organised by the Genossen- ture is being blackmailed by structural re- managing a small farm. Can you briefly schaft Zeit-Fragen/Current Concerns at assessments and direct payments (or the introduce your company and your family the Leipzig book fair refusal of these direct payments). Instead to our readers? page 15 of family farms, industrial agriculture is Markus Müller: We own a small farm in “… and your own emergency supply?” to be promoted in Switzerland. This, even the village of Trutigen in the commune page 16 though reputable scientists worldwide stated in the World Agricultural Report continued on page 2 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 2

”Strengthening the family farms” to produce more and cheaper. This does again relatively quickly, which again continued from page 1 not apply to agriculture. It is the nature leads to new investments, the bill for the that sets natural limits to us. The struc- farmer doesn’t add up. In addition, this Neuenkirch (Canton of Lucerne) work- tural change with bigger farms leads to a policy leads to ever-increasing produc- ing as full-time farmers; we, that is Rita more expensive production, because the tion costs. and Markus Müller with our children, Sil- corresponding mechanisation cost many vio, Aline and Leandro. We also work the times more. For example, in a small to What must be changed, so that the farm- Alp Suretta Sufers in the mountains of the medium farm one can feed the animals ing community in our country can ful- Canton of Grisons. just with a fork (costs: 35 francs), a fill the mandate laid down in the Federal 6.6 ha of agricultural land, 10 cows, 20 large farm needs a fodder mixing vehi- Constitution? sows, our dog Simba, a few chickens and cle (costs: 35,000 francs). The larger op- A simple financial back up for every cats belong to our farm. Besides animal eration has to produce 1,000 times more farm operating full-time is required in husbandry we are growing wheat and trit- than the smaller one, to balance these line with the initiative for small farmers, icale and we produce cherries, apples and costs, and this is impossible. And if it is launched by René Hochueli and Lorenz plums from standard fruit trees. Triticale is a done, there is a consequence on the price. Kunz. The Vereinigung zum Schutz der crop bred from crossing durum wheat (Trit- A result of higher production volumes is kleinen und mittleren Bauern (VKMB, icum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale). It that prices fall. Only state subsidies can Association for the Protection of Small serves mainly as a feed grain because the help to keep up such kind of production. and Medium-sized Farms) under its Pres- baking ability is less good than the mixture This has nothing to do with market and ident René Hochueli launched a popular of wheat and rye. The cultivation of triticale market prices. initiative for a real traditional agricul- is similar to that of wheat. The plant has a ture with the slogan “Gnue Heu dune! good adaptability, is not demanding and also The official agricultural policy would (too much has happened)” on 1 Septem- suitable for higher altitudes. like to merge the medium-sized and ber 1983. “We want to remain farmers!” In addition, we produce 30,000 kWh of smaller farms into larger operating the committee chose as a headline for an solar electricity. We receive about 18,000 units. This structural reform is threat- article in the association’s own month- Swiss francs of subsidies per year from ening the existence of the rural family ly bulletin. Fight was announced to the the state. business. What needs to be done to pro- “meat factories with no connection to the vide a real prospect for the future fam- soil” and mass production businesses. Would you please explain your situation ily farms? The popular initiative “Food sovereign- as a manager of a farm in a few sentenc- A basic support for every full-time farm- ty” (www.ernaehrungsouveraeniteat.ch) es to us. er is required, as well as fewer regula- of Uniterre goes precisely into this di- Today, the work of managing a farm is tions and a market-oriented production, rection. rather the work of an office worker. You this means a production volume matched have to fill out forms permanently, imple- to the demand and no overproduction, so What do you expect from the Swiss citi- ment new legislation and adapt operations. that the prices are adequate. The current zens in relation to the preservation of the Work on the farm, taking care of the an- agricultural policy forces the farmers to agricultural family business? imals, machinery repair, are going short. increase the production volume in order Of course, I appreciate the many manifes- Authorities dictate, what we have to do to compensate falling prices. tations of sympathy to the farmers. On the and how we have to do it. other hand, I’d like to see a fair consumer With direct payments, farmers should behaviour and an attitude of understand- The farmers are again and again prompt- receive compensation for the non-com- ing of all citizens, that all companies have ed to be entrepreneurs. For free enter- pensatory product prices. Why are these a right to exist regardless of their size and prise, however, it is imperative to fix payments not sufficient for a long-term their location. Also, I expect their deter- the prices of manufactured products by existence of your business? mination to affirm their sympathies by po- means of a fair, cost-oriented calcula- The problem is not the amount of direct litical actions. tion and generate the price on the mar- payments, but rather the corresponding ket. Why is this principle rendered inop- regulations. If you first have to invest a Mr Müller, thank you very much for the erative with respect to agriculture? lot of money into the business to fulfill interview. • This is because a false ideology is ap- the conditions for receiving direct pay- plied. In industry, the bigger ones are said ments and then the rules are changed (Interview Reinhard Koradi) No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 3

What can the free trade agreement TTIP accomplish? fg. In an interview with Die Zeit on 18 gotiating mandate a secret for so long”.1 corrections, will be disappointed by Ms February 2015, EU Trade Commissioner Ms Malmström also hoped – and thus re- Malmström’s comments; at best, the com- Cecilia Malmström admitted that the Eu- peated a statement by Barack Obama – munication strategy will change in future. ropean Commission had made a mistake to defend “European values” with TTIP Recently, numerous critical articles on with respect to the controversial free trade because the agreement would negotiate the trade agreements TTIP, CETA (Com- agreement TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and the rules of globalisation with the United prehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, Investment Partnership) with the United States and not with China or Russia. Who agreement between the EU and Canada) States: “It was a mistake to keep the ne- had hoped to have substantive, technical continued on page 4

New free trade agreements threaten the “Swiss success model” – Stop TiSA! Signatories: Social democratic members of the National Council Jacqueline Badran (ZH), Marina Carobbio Guscetti (TI), Jean Christophe Schwaab (VD), Carlo Sommaruga (GE) and Cédric Wermuth (AG) as well as Deputy General Secretary François Clément and Fabian Molina, president of the Young Socialists of Switzerland

The “Swiss success model” is based quite tice of the drastic negative consequenc- This may seem like a bad sci-fi movie, emphatically on the quality of our pub- es (for example, privatisation in heavily but is unfortunately already a reality. lic service, on our (direct) democracy and indebted countries enforced by the EU- The State Uruguay was sued for damag- on an economic policy that redistributes ”Troika”). In addition, a real tsunami of es amounting to several millions of dol- wealth and thus supports demand and, liberalisations and of the corresponding lars by a tobacco multi before such an in- most notably, purchasing power. It is cer- chaos will be sweeping towards us if the ternational centre for the settlement of tainly no coincidence that a country like free trade agreements CETA (EU-Cana- investment disputes. The company takes ours, where all the important services for da), TTIP/TAFTA (EU-US) and TISA should the view the new law on protection from the population are provided by the pub- ever come into force. Although Switzer- passive smoking constitutes such an im- lic sector (education, health, water, en- land only participates directly in the TiSA port barrier – and claims “hedge clause ergy, public transport, etc.) is still so well negotiations (which are held in camera procedure” of the kind provided by TTIP, off economically. Public service also plays in Geneva), it could still be forced to join TISA and CETA. It is now quite immateri- an important role in our national and so- even further agreements in the future. al that the law serves to protect the pub- cial solidarity: The necessary services are Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann lic health. offered at affordable rates all across the only recently announced his intention of The agreements also provide for a country, while, conversely, the profits of joining the TTIP Agreement. rule that goods or services which are public companies benefit the tax payers. The intention of these free trade not subject to any regulation at the time Yet it is exactly these important ben- agreements is mainly to dismantle so- of entry into force of the contracts may efits that are threatened by new free called “import barriers”. Even govern- never afterwards be regulated. This also trade agreements purposing to surren- ment-issued rules and regulations are applies to all products and services that der large parts of the public sector to counted among these “barriers”, for ex- will be invented at some time in the fu- the “free” market and to withdraw them ample, rules relating to health or envi- ture. Thus, for example, nuclear power from democratic control. Although Swit- ronmental protection (e.g. the GM ban or could never have been regulated, if zerland does not participate in all of the land-use planning regulations), to labour such an agreement had been signed be- negotiations (a lot of them only concern legislation (e.g. generally binding collec- fore its invention – not even to protect the EU, the US and Canada), we could be tive labour agreements), to social security the people. Following the same logic, it forced to implement the agreements by (e.g. compulsory health insurance), to the would no longer be possible for the pub- means of the “Cassis de Dijon” principle. protection of domestic production (e.g. lic sector to re-assume control of areas In the year 2002, a popular referen- indications of source) or to public service or tasks which had once been liberalised dum aiming at the liberalisation of the (e.g. the public monopoly concerning el- or de-regulated – not even if the people electricity market failed. In the ten-odd ementary schools or the water supply). If were to pronounce for doing exactly the years since then, public service suffered these agreements become effective, no like in a public referendum or if a liber- very little attack. Some performance de- company can be barred from offering its alisation attempt should fail. terioration was indeed enforced polit- goods or services for sale as well any long- Therefore, irrespective of their ac- ically, but it was possible to reject the er neither selling them in another con- tual contents, these free trade agree- main liberalisation and privatisation pro- tractual state on an equal footing with its ments are unacceptable even merely jects with clear majorities. Both the pop- own domestic companies. from a democratic perspective. Should ulation and the political elite had in fact If, for example, a US company legal- our parliament and our people agree now noticed that the implementation of ly places genetically modified seeds on to such agreements, we would limit our neoliberal recipes entails disastrous con- the market in the United States, accord- democratic rights massively: We would sequences. The result is always the same: ing to TTIP rules the EU must also allow never again be able to exercise demo- profits are privatised, losses are paid by this. And by dint of the “Cassis de Dijon” cratic control over domains once liberal- the public. In the end, as soon as there principle, it would automatically also be ised or not yet regulated. Such “eternal are problems, the public authorities and permitted in Switzerland. Should we nev- bondage” for democracy is incompatible the public purse must always be called in ertheless want to enforce the GM ban with the principles of our constitution- to help. But at least since 2010 the wind enacted by the Swiss people, the foreign al state. Thus, these agreements chal- has been changing again. On the one investors would have the right to sue lenge our Swiss democratic sovereignty hand, memories of the failures of privati- Switzerland for “damages” into the mil- and are a serious threat to the public ser- sation projects in other countries seem to lions if they believed that they had suf- vice. They endanger long-fought-for and be fading away (for example that of the fered losses. The decision would lie with long defended social achievements such failed British rail privatisation). On the a centre for the settlement of investment as health and worker protection and the other hand, the more recent attempts disputes meeting in camera – a court or preservation of the environment. We have only been taken in hand a short any other authority of appeal is not pro- will therefore strive against them pas- while ago – politics has not yet taken no- vided for. sionately. No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 4

”What can the free trade agreement …” for the International Labour Organiza- – GDP growth in the US by 0.36% and continued from page 3 tion in Geneva, published a study on this GDP sinking in the EU (0.03% in Italy topic in October 2014.2 He noted that the and 0.50% in North Europe) and TiSA (Trade in Services Agreement) quantitative arguments in favour of TTIP – Increase in income up to 699 euros per appeared in the media. They all deal with are based on four studies whose projec- worker in the United States and de- various disadvantages: the fact that TTIP tions draw on the same model as the World crease in the EU (approximately 165 is being negotiated between the Europe- Bank which was particularly unsuitable for euros in South Europe5 and 5,518 euros an Commission (rather than the individual an assessment of trade policy. These pro- in France) EU member states) and the United States; jections were based on the assumption that, – Increase in employment in the US by the fact that a corporation can file a suit for for example, trade liberalisation automati- 784,000 workers and decrease in the damage compensation against a state – if cally and quickly led to full employment. EU by 583,000 workers. the state’s legislation reduced the return on However, this is far from being the case. Since the trade agreement TTIP does not the corporate’s investment – and the fact Therefore, Capaldo built his research on a produce any economic benefit to the EU that these agreements restrict consumer pro- model of the UN which is not based on the countries further investigation and nego- tection. These are all important concerns. assumption of full employment but on the tiation is unnecessary. • Our approach, however, is different: by assumption of aggregated demand, i.e. the using the example of TTIP we intend to find demand for all goods in an economy, an ap- 1 www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2015-02/cecilia-malm- 3 out whether the agreements’ principles af- proach that reflects the economy better. stroem-ttip-fehler fect the countries or international units pos- The consequences are dramatic. Ac- 2 http://ase.tufts.edu/gdae The Trans-Atlantic Trade itively at all – in form of an increase in trade cording to Capaldo’s calculations in 2025 and Investment Partnership: European Disintegra- flows, the gross domestic product (GDP), the trade agreement TTIP would have a tion, Unemployment and Instability, October 2014. personal income, employment, etc.; only positive impact in the USA and a negative 3 To simulate the changes in trade flows, GDP, per- sonal income, employment for the year 2025, the in that case would they make any sense. impact in Europe on their respective eco- data must be calculated without the influence of When we address the legislative history of nomic sectors (trade, GDP, personal in- TTIP (basic assumption) and next with the influ- the agreement, we arrive at the conclusion come and employment): ence included. Finally, the difference between the two data series is calculated and the result quoted that already in its beginnings a scientific ap- as a percentage of GDP so that it is comparable in proach is quite questionable. – Increase in net exports in the US by the different countries. The Italian economist Jeronim Capal- 1.02%, and decrease in the EU (by 4 Finland, the Netherlands and Belgium do, Senior Research Fellow at the Ameri- 0.36% in Italy and 2.07% in North Eu- 5 Greece, Spain, Portugal and East European nation- can Tufts University and currently working rope4) al economies

The crisis of the United States is a manifestation of decline An inner history of the New America by Prof Dr Klaus Hornung How stable is the roots: those in power in the financial world of a further rise to profitable political of- “leader of the world” have cancelled their contract with socie- fices and positions. It is the panorama of (President George ty in an orgy of excess and cynicism. A a political style in which the reckless are Bush 1992), “the in- system of “revolving door policy” has de- the winners, the picture of an elite exer- dispensable nation veloped between Wall Street and Capitol cising their power far beyond the classical for peace, freedom Hill, the financial oligarchy, Congress and democratic standards and the rule-of-law. and democracy in the House of Representatives, which displays Within this framework, there also appear world” (President Bill all the symptoms of decline. well-known figures of contemporary his- Klaus Hornung Clinton 1997)? At that Packer does not look at foreign and mili- tory, such as President Bill Clinton with (picture ma) time, the United States tary policy. He wants to describe the internal his sex stories and solemn oaths, by which might have considered history of the US scenario through a long he succeeded to evade the law. themselves to be at the height of their his- series of detailed social biographies of con- And there is also the tragic figure of Colin tory after winning the cold war. Two dec- temporaries in politics and business, includ- Powell, child of immigrants from Jamaica, ades later, after the military interventions ing people from all population strata. There who fought as a soldier in Vietnam for many in Iraq and Afghanistan turned into disas- is, for instance, Jeff Connaughton, who years and was promoted to the prestigious ters, they drifted into their serious finan- spends his life between the financial sector Chief of Staff and Minister of Foreign Af- cial and economic crisis and currently sit and politics and moves up the ladder from fairs, to be finally misused by President Bush on an astronomically high mountain of the campaign team of current Vice President junior to deliver his famous address to the national debt amounting to nearly 15 tril- Joe Biden to the high bureaucrats and minis- UN Security Council, to lie about Saddam lion dollars. ters in Washington, acquires a considerable Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruc- For the American journalist George fortune and witnesses the relentless power tion which was to justify the US military in- Packer, the crisis reflects decline, the dis- struggles for influence and financial gain in tervention in Iraq and destroyed the reputa- integration of social solidarity into ex- the elites and their networks. tion of the upright civil servant. treme individualism, not least into a wid- The conduct of a large number of bank- The author then switches to Silicon ening gap between rich and poor. His book ers, lawyers and financial auditors is often Valley, that symbol of the inexhaustible traces this inner history of the present-day far off the law, characterised by the greed United States, and the author locates the for bonuses in the millions and the pursuit continued on page 5 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 5

Water supplies in the Valais in danger The power supply is a joint effort – it is important to take care of it (Part 2) by Dr rer publ Werner Wüthrich

Hydropower plant on the river Aare near Ruppoldingen. (picture thk)

The European electricity policy is in mo- in Germany was at 31 percent in 2014 gram on the energy revolution as “lone- tion. Germany and other European coun- (6.9% solar energy, wind 10%, biomass ly revolution” (5.9.2013). Other coun- tries rely massively on new renewable en- 9.5% and water 4%). In 2050, it will tries go their own ways. The differences ergy sources from the sun and the wind. have amounted to 80 percent. Eight nu- are significant. The UK plans a new nu- They speak of a revolution – compara- clear plants were shut down immediately clear power plant at Hinkley Point and ble to the moon landing of man. The en- after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. at the same time realizes the construc- ergy revolution is promoted vigorously In a few years the remaining plants are tion of huge wind farms at sea in Scot- with high subsidies. The share of elec- to be switched off. The television channel land. The Netherlands also hesitate to re- tricity from renewable energy sources Arte described Germany’s policy in a pro- alize a complete exit from nuclear power. In Denmark – surrounded by the sea – 39 percent of its electricity came from wind ”The crisis of the United States …” With real commitment, he outlines the farms in 2014. The French President Hol- continued from page 5 more recent internal history of the Unit- lande wants to reduce the share of nucle- ed States. The author’s call for decisive ar power in the longer term from 75 to American renewal force. A certain Peter corrections of the political system of his 50 percent and will thus hold on to nu- Thiel is his biographical witness, son of country and for a social renewal can be clear power. Poland is a “Coal Country”, a “born-again” Christian family, gifted seen throughout the text. Packer’s pano- which relies on fossil fuels for about 90 Stanford student, decidedly anti-com- rama of this decline is reminiscent of so- percent. The Czech Republic has reduced munist and anti-gay, who one day had to cial scientist Christopher Larsch’s book, its funding of renewable energy and con- come out himself. Later he founded sev- “The Revolt of the Elites and the Betray- tinues to focus on their own nuclear en- eral hedge funds, through which he be- al of Democracy” (1994), which also sees ergy. Poland and the Czech Republic are came a Titan of billion assets, spending the core of the American crisis in a “dem- protecting themselves against the cheap his days as an influential major sponsor ocratic malaise”. electricity from Germany, which endan- in his luxury villa in Stanford on the Ma- It is the story of the privileged elite’s gers their own electricity production (see rina. alienation from their society, of those who “Weltwoche” of 10.10.2013). Other coun- These were the years in which Cali- control the international flow of money tries wait and see. fornia seemed to develop into some kind and information, who with their multicul- A comparison with Austria: the share of heaven on earth due to the defense and tural lifestyle of work and leisure in their of electricity from renewable energy space technology and later on due to Inter- foreclosed, well protected enclaves, aban- sources in Switzerland is at high 60 per- net and Facebook, but has eventually not doned their civic duties long ago. This cent – consisting of 97 percent hydro- escaped decline after the bursting of the world appears to be the realisation of Max power and of three percent energy from Internet bubble and the subsequent crisis Weber’s famous vision of a society of solar, wind and biomass sources. 40 per- in 2008. Thus, the libertarian Thiel started “specialists without spirit, hedonists with- cent of the electricity are generated in nu- to realise the intellectual and political lim- out a heart”. • clear power plants. In Austria, 67 percent its of the American dream dance around George Packer: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the electricity are generated by hydro- the golden calf and its consequences. of the New America. Faber and Faber, power and 27 percent by thermal power Parker’s book is an idiosyncrat- London 2013, ISBN 978-0-571-25129-2 ic mix of documentation and literature. (Translation Current Concerns) continued on page 6 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 6

”Water supplies in the Valais in danger” a pumped storage station for 1.5 billion 2050”, which would indeed be manda- continued from page 5 Swiss francs in the Upper Poschiavo on tory in Switzerland for a policy deci- the Bernina Pass. The two lakes Lago Bi- sion of such great importance. Giant plants, which are powered by gas and anco and Lago di Poschiavo will be linked has not reached the required number of coal. The proportion of energy from the by a pressure tunnel at an altitude of 2,000 signatures. sun and wind is also low. The complet- meters. The project could be operated eco- – Given the price situation, the Swiss ed Zwentendorf nuclear power plant has friendly. But here again the question arises Water Management Association called never been operating after the referendum as to whether it will be possible to cover for a promotion of large hydropow- in 1978. – It is obvious why Switzerland costs. Repower has deferred the project. er dams by the federal government as and Austria are referred to as Europe’s However, the federal government relies early as 2013 – through concession- water reservoirs. on the existing and the proposed addition- ary loans (“Neue Zürcher Zeitung” of al hydroelectric power plants in order to 25.9.2013). Electricity policy replace nuclear power capacity later on. – Karl Frauenfelder, professor of ener- is an affair of nation states The Swiss Federal Office of Energy has gy management at the University of St. made a market study on the situation of Gallen, called for “a guaranteed federal There are good reasons for the fact – large-scale hydroelectric power plants. It and cantonal minimum price for output given the large differences between the states that the production costs of elec- and production of hydroelectric power 28 countries – that there are no uniform tricity for new or upgraded units are 14 – especially for that of the pumped energy policies within the EU. The elec- cents per kilowatt hour. They are more storage stations”. This would enable the tricity market was liberalized in 1998 but than twice as high as the current whole- planned development and contribute to may not be regulated by Brussels because sale price of 5 cents (“Neue Zürcher Zei- supply security. Similar to the National it is the affair of every singular nation tung” of 13.12.2013). If the planned in- Bank’s specifying a minimum rate of state how they produce their electricity. vestments are not made, Switzerland will 1.20 francs for the euro, the state should The prices at the European Energy Ex- become increasingly dependent on elec- set a minimum price for electricity on change are characterized by different na- tricity imports from Germany and France, the border, which would secure the sur- tional approaches both in electricity pro- which currently come from coal (Germa- vival of the hydropower plants and ena- duction and in subsidizing programmes. If ny) or from nuclear power (France) to a ble them to make the necessary invest- it were up to the European Commission, large extent – an absurd situation. In the ment in expansion. “Electricity is too there would not have been any purely na- fall of 2014, the National Council re- big to fail,” said Frauenfelder (“Neue tional funding programs for the expansion sponded in the context of the great debate Zürcher Zeitung” of 6.10.2013). (Czech of renewable energies for a long time. The on the Energy Strategy 2050 and granted Republic and Poland go in a similar di- question is open whether the development 600 million investment aid for large-scale rection. They waive – at least tempo- of wind and solar power will gain as much power plants. Of these, some projects in rarily – on the import of cheap electric- acceptance as in Germany or – which is to the Valais benefit. For the consumer, the ity from Germany to enable their own be assumed – whether there will be very surcharge on electricity of 1.5 cents/kWh power plants to produce electricity). different national approaches in the field is increased to 2.3 cents. The project will – The industry organizations in the of power supplies in the future. be dealt with in the Council of States in field of hydropower in Germany, Aus- Another effect is striking: Most modern the spring session. This does, however, not tria and Switzerland also launched gas power plants are currently shut down solve the problem. the Energy Initiative of the Alpine and mothballed, since they can no longer Countries in 2013. The exaggerat- be operated profitably with the declining Resistance against ed subsidizing of renewable energy market prices in Europe. Old, depreciated the neglect of hydropower sources is challenging the survival coal power plants are, however, operated This assistance operation of hydropower of pumped storage plants. They de- at low costs. They can still work efficient- was preceded by a parliamentarian deci- mand: No new subsidies, but a reduc- ly at low prices and contribute to the over- sion in summer 2013 to increase the sub- tion of the “one-sided solar and wind supply – a fatal undesirable trend. The de- sidies on new renewable energy technol- power” subsidies for green energy velopments on the European gas market ogies – i.e. solar and wind power – up to throughout Europe (“Neue Zürcher and their impact on energy prices are also 900 million francs per year. For this pur- Zeitung” of 5.7.2013). uncertain. pose, the extra charge per kilowatt of elec- tricity, which households already have to 2013 – Reaction of Hydropower must have a future pay, rose. Various parties showed signs of the Federal Office of Energy The current oversupply of electricity opposition and set up their own demands: The Federal Council has responded and clearly shows that irregularly occurring – The canton of Grisons filed a canton- reduced subsidies for solar energy. The energies do require energy storage devic- al initiative in the fall of 2013 and re- cost rates of cost-covering feed-in com- es. The Swiss hydropower plants are able quested to reduce the excessive sub- pensation KEV were reduced. Moreover, to fulfill this function, so that the power sidies again in order to preserve the the money will only be paid out over a pe- supply could remain independent to a cer- value of hydropower. riod of 15 years (Statement of the Feder- tain degree as it did up to now. The cur- – The independent politician Christian al Office of Energy of 22.8.2013). Fur- rent energy storage devices are part of an Riesen took the referendum in 2013 thermore, 2.4 million in funding for the overall approach for a secure national en- against the feed-in compensation KEV, planned large solar plant in the avalanche ergy supply. as an individual, and quite in the style barriers above the Grisons mountain vil- The Grisons Energy Director Mario of Thomas Minder. The massive sub- lage of St. Antönien were stopped. This Cavigelli, President of the Conference of sidies made solar and wind power in project will – at least for now – not be the Mountain Cantons, demands feder- Switzerland a good bargain. He protest- built: hence a little less money for solar al subsidies for conventional hydropow- ed that the Federal Council and Parlia- power and slightly more for water. er plants to enable them to be managed ment did not plan a constitutional vote profitably: In the Grisons, Repower (for- on the “multi-billion-project energy merly up to 2010 Raetia Energy) plans revolution” and the “Energy Strategy continued on page 7 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 7

”Water supplies in the Valais in danger” continued from page 6 Prospects: unity and solidarity among the mountain cantons and the Swiss Plateau Before I comment on the other events and especially the upcoming electricity The power supply which was construct- far the expansion of water power in the ed with much foresight in the last cen- last century. agreement with the EU, it makes sense to tury is a gem and we have to take care The reversion of the large power take a look at the structures and legal basis of it. Hans Wyer, the grand old man of stations in the years 2035 – 2055 will of power supply in Switzerland. the Swiss Valais and the CVP, closes his become the touchstone of the water comprehensive work “The use of water power utilisation. The Valais will mas- Legal basis of Swiss power supply – power in the Valais” with the following ter this task for the future if unity and a reflection of the Swiss model words: solidarity prevail between mountain At the beginning of the 20th century, in “Today we speak a lot about syner- and valley. In the Swiss federal ener- the year 1908, people and the cantons of gies, i.e. interaction. The utilisation of gy policy and electricity supply, the hy- Switzerland decided to vote in a constitu- water power today takes place in water dropower use will meet a political task tional referendum that the cantons would power stations from Gletsch up to the that is beyond its energy and environ- dispose of the water and use it within the Lake Geneva, made in the Valais and mental meaning if unity and solidarity limits of the federal legislation. In the Bernese Alps, on both sides of the Rot- prevail between the Mountain cantons ten. To put this specifically into service and the industrialized Swiss Central 1916 implementing act About the utiliza- for the country and the people is the Plateau. I am confident that an open tion of water power, the federal govern- challenging task of coming generations. Valais in an open Switzerland will rec- ment set the framework for the cantons We start today to prepare them. The ognize this opportunity for the future and in particular for the concession agree- significance of this result can surpass by and seize it.” ments with the power plant companies. Here are three examples from the act that has been revised several times since then: reported about that in his impressive book that households can choose their electrici- 1. The federal act supports communities “Die Nutzung der Wasserkraft im Wallis” ty supplier freely – similarly to what is al- to join forces in a region, to establish (The use of water power in the Valais). ready the case today with telephone and cooperatives and jointly address the The basic provision in the sense of public internet providers. This second step would issues of water use (Art. 43 ff.). This service is guaranteed today basing on this be one of the conditions to join the inter- has also been done in the Valais and in concept. Import and export balance possi- nal EU electricity market. It is subject to many places in Switzerland. ble variations. an optional referendum. The people will 2. The act determines the framework for have the opportunity to stop this unsound the water rates. Art. 49: “The water in- Scheduled departure from development. terest […] may not exceed 100 francs the tried and tested Swiss model – per year by the end of 2014 and it may politicians urge to liberalize the Electrical power supply not exceed an annually 110 francs per electricity market as defined by EU must not be centralized kilowatt gross output until the end of Contrary to the presented and well func- Currently the “Bundesrat” (Swiss gov- 2019.” tioning current Swiss model, EU turbos ernment) is negotiating a new electric- 3. Art. 67 of the act provides for the have begun in Berne since 2002 to harmo- ity agreement with the EU. However, framework for the escheat. The renew- nize the EU electricity market. The Swiss since the EU has demanded that Switzer- al investments in the years before the Federation of Trade Unions took the refer- land also agrees to adopt all future deci- escheat should be made as follows: endum against the Electricity Market Act sions made in Brussels in this area, with- “The concessionaire is obliged to main- of 2002, and the people rejected the lib- out knowing what these decisions might tain the equipment and keep those fa- eralization significantly. After only five be, all negotiations have been put on ice cilities in working order that come years – in 2007 – the Parliament agreed for months. These carte blanche treaties, under the escheat law.” on the Electricity Supply Act, intending which also entail that Switzerland surren- “Modernization and expansion invest- to liberalize the electricity market – very der her jurisdictional sovereignty to EU ments are refunded to the concession- similarly to the bill of 2002 – this time law in the respective area, are euphemis- aire in case of escheat, provided that he in two steps. There was neither a referen- tically referred to as “institutional frame- has made the modernization or expan- dum nor a popular vote on it. Since 2009, work agreements”, something the EU sion in arrangement with the commu- the electricity market has been liberalized want to enforce with respect to all future nity entitled to escheat.” for big consumers. However, the free mar- bilateral treaties and even to the already At the same time countless referen- ket has not been attractive for them until existing ones. In the electrical power mar- dums have taken place at the communal recently, since the fixed prices for house- ket the EU intends to accomplish their and cantonal level in which voters decen- holds were lower. Only about 10 percent mega-goal of a single market. Even today tralized the legal basis for the power sup- of big consumers (over 100,000 kilowatt we may fairly predict that this mega-goal ply of Switzerland in their regions. Many hours per year) used it. However, this – should it be implemented as planned – communes established communal or pub- changed recently, since a lot of cheap elec- would have far-reaching consequences, lic facilities. Others joined forces with tricity from Germany has been flowing also in regard to hydropower. other communes and founded coopera- into Switzerland, undermining the pric- Brussels intends to regulate the electri- tives and corporations of various kinds in es of domestic power plants. The share of cal power market in a streamlined fashion order to supply households with electric- bulk buyers who are stocking up on the for all 28 countries. Obligatory provisions ity, water and gas in the sense of the “Ser- open market or in Germany or France, has and shared regulations regarding power vice Public”. Today, approximately 800 increased significantly over the past year. plants, networks operators, providers and independent companies provide the popu- The city of Winterthur, for example, ob- consumers are supposed to be the solution lation with electricity and often also with tains its electricity from Germany as of and accomplish the single market in the gas and water at production costs. The recently. electrical power sector. New transnation- companies are connected to each other in The market for private households is to a variety of regional networks. Hans Wyer be liberalized in a second step by 2016, so continued on page 8 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 8

”Water supplies in the Valais in danger” of other polls could be cited here. I think with the power supply as with the single continued from page 7 the Swiss people would prefer to keep currency: Does it really make sense for control of their own electrical power sup- so many countries with such huge differ- al power lines are planned to connect the ply in one way or the other – at both re- ences in all aspects of life to be lumped countries and unify regional and national gional and cantonal levels. But precisely together? Or can people organize their markets. So-called “electrical power high- because it is running so smoothly nobody own power supply easier in smaller, de- ways” are being designed, capable of car- actually thinks about the system. (It has to centralized units? In Germany, for-in- rying huge amounts of electrical power be said, though that big segments of Swiss stance, a trend towards re-communalisa- across Europe. This EU single market is electricity providers have extended their tion has been detectable for some years. bound to fundamentally change electri- original business scope and started to be Municipalities and communes take on re- cal power supply in every single country involved in the foreign business). sponsibility for the electrical power sup- and create a situation reminiscent of the As a matter of fact, those structures ply themselves, again. USA where electrical power of the entire that were built over generations would be Therefore, with this electricity agreement country is dominated by a few big corpo- turned upside down in case Switzerland with the EU there is much more at stake rations. joined the EU electricity market. Small- for Switzerland than just some questions There are still open technical questions. er companies – and there are still quite a of import and export of electrical power One huge EU market of electrical power few of them – would find it hard to meet or the liberalization of the energy market. is not as easy to handle as telephone or in- the Brussels conditions. The ongoing It is worth starting early to deal with it. ternet markets. Big costly investments for trend towards fewer and bigger mega- new power lines would be necessary in all companies would be enhanced even fur- In Switzerland countries – including Switzerland should ther and the public sector of basic needs decisions are made by the people she join the scheme – in order to connect such as electricity, gas and water would Switzerland will solve the ensuing ques- power providers and consumers with each be weakened. – Is that what we really tions in the cantons and on the federal other. Switzerland is supposed to play a want? level. The regionalisation of mega-pow- role as an exchange and storage platform Switzerland is facing a crucial decision er plants has to be discussed and organ- of electrical power. The costs would have with the electricity treaty: maintaining ized in an atmosphere of co-operation, to be paid by the consumers. New expen- well-functioning structures which have de- according to the tradition of the Swiss sive technologies have to be implemented veloped over decades, or entering towards “Eidgenossenschaft”. The “new” sustain- on a large scale in order to control the ex- a hazardous modification process in a EU able energies have to be promoted in such pected oscillations in production and con- single market? There is more at stake than a way that water power is not devalued. sumption. just a liberalization of the electrical power Further use of nuclear power has to be de- Legally this plan is covered by the Lis- market and a promise of lower electricity cided upon and a regulation framework be bon treaty. According to its Articles 193 prizes for private households. Just like in established for the future. As already men- and 194 Brussels has been granted far- the case of the Euro, this project of a sin- tioned, in part one of this article (see Cur- reaching competencies to influence na- gle EU electricity market is another step rent Concerns No 5 of 22.2.2015), quite tional politics of EU member states, al- towards political union. This explains why often Axpo, Alpiq, BKW and Repower act though it cannot rule on energy issues the EU wants Switzerland to also sign an similarly to some globally active mega- directly. And Brussels intends to apply “institutional framework agreement” as a corporations today, although they are up these competencies even to the non-mem- pre-condition together with the electrici- to 80% owned by cantons and municipal- ber state Switzerland. ty treaty. ities and should be controlled much more tightly by the electorate. In the Canton of How would the EU single market of Connecting Europe Graubünden the popular initiative “Yes to electrical power affect Switzerland? The single EU electricity market is part of clean electrical power without coal” was There is not much talk about that. For an EU programme called Connecting Eu- accepted on 22.9.2013 and therefore ve- instance Brussels demands that foreign rope, which is supposed to use the elec- toed the plans of the electrical power pro- power providers have to have equal rights tricity treaty to integrate Switzerland into vider Repower to invest in the huge Italian in competition with domestic companies. the EU. Brussels intends to spend 50 bil- black coal power plant in Saline Joniche. This would actually mean that foreign lion euros on transnational infrastructure The sovereign hast to become active at power providers would be granted conces- projects by 2020. As a side effect, this is the federal level, too. Parliament has dis- sions to use the water in the alpine can- meant to boost the EU economy. 9.2 bil- cussed the energy strategy 2050 in au- tons. Many small and medium domestic lion are designated to the energy sector. tumn 2014. The expose will be present- electrical power providers owned today by Former EU Commission President José ed to the “Ständerat” (Council of States) the municipalities and cantons do not pay Manuel Barroso commented on the plan in its spring session. Several popular ini- any taxes because they serve in the public as follows: “At the end of the day Con- tiatives have already been submitted. On sector as state institutions, this could be necting Europe will lay foundations for a 8 March 2015 people will vote on the ini- interpreted as an illegal competition bias really unified European Union in which tiative “Energy tax instead of sales tax”. under the EU single market law. The EU all European nations are interconnected More referenda concerning the ensuing could press Switzerland to sell and privat- with each other.” parliamentary decisions will follow in ize these domestic power providers. We have seen other examples where the months to come. Many questions re- Brussels made bad economic decisions main. How to proceed with water power? Crucial decision for the sake of some distant ideological How fast should nuclear energy be aban- Is the concept which had been developed vision. The EU single currency project, doned? Should Switzerland opt out of nu- by citizens of several generations a phase- which functions poorly because grave clear energy completely? Should the exit out model? I don’t think so. – When the economic and cultural differences be- be combined with a new ecological tax- electorate of the Canton of Zurich voted in tween the participating countries were ation system? How much EU-style free favor of a publicly owned electrical power ignored, is similar to the single electric- trade would make sense without jeopar- company instead of a private one in 1908, ity market in its dimension and political dizing sovereignty? Many questions, the they did that for a good reason. A number implications. The same questions arise sovereign needs to answer. • No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page I

“Whatever solution you want to make, at the end you should go back to the people through a referendum” An interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

The civil war in Syria will soon enter its ciety living together. So the divisions in here: Who do you negotiate with? As a gov- fifth year, with no end in sight. On 20 Jan- Syria are not based on sectarian or eth- ernment, we have institutions, we have an uary, Foreign Affairs managing editor nic grounds. And even in the Kurdish area army, and we have influence, positive or neg- Jonathan Tepperman met with Syrian you are talking about, we have two dif- ative, in any direction, at any time. Where- President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus ferent colors: we have Arabs more than as the people we are going to negotiate with, to discuss the conflict in an exclusive in- Kurds. So it’s not about the ethnicity; who do they represent? That’s the question. terview. it’s about the factions that control certain When you talk about the opposition, it has to areas militarily. have meaning. The opposition in general has Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs: I to have representatives in the local admin- would like to start by asking you about the A year ago, both the opposition and for- istration, in the parliament, in institutions; war. It has now been going on for almost eign governments were insisting that you they have to have grass roots to represent on four years, and you know the statistics: more step down as a precondition to talks. They their behalf. In the current crisis, you have than 200,000 people have been killed, a mil- no longer are. Diplomats are now looking to ask about the opposition’s influence on lion wounded, and more than three million for an interim settlement that would allow the ground. You have to go back to what the Syrians have fled the country, according to you to keep a role. Just today [20.1.2015], rebels announced publicly, when they said the UN. Your forces have also suffered heavy “The New York Times” had an article many times that the opposition doesn’t repre- casualties. The war cannot go on forever. that talked about increased US support sent us – they have no influence. If you want How do you see the war ending? for the Russian and UN peace initiatives. to talk about fruitful dialogue, it’s going to Bashar al-Assad: All wars anywhere in The article refers to “the West’s quiet re- be between the government and those rebels. the world have ended with a political so- treat from its demands that Syria’s presi- There is another point. Opposition means lution, because war itself is not the solu- dent step down immediately.” Given this national; it means working for the interests tion; war is one of the instruments of pol- shift in the Western attitude, are you now of the Syrian people. It cannot be an opposi- itics. So you end with a political solution. more open to a negotiated solution to the tion if it’s a puppet of Qatar or Saudi Arabia That’s how we see it. That is the headline. conflict that leads to a political transi- or any Western country, including the Unit- tion? ed States, paid from the outside. It should be You don’t think that this war will end mil- From the very beginning, we were open. Syrian. We have a national opposition. I’m itarily? We engaged in dialogue with every party not excluding it; I’m not saying every oppo- No. Any war ends with a political solution. in Syria. Party doesn’t mean political party; sition is not legitimate. But you have to sep- it could be a party, a current, or some per- arate the national and the puppets. Not every Your country is increasingly divided into sonality; it could be any political entity. dialogue is fruitful. three ministates: one controlled by the We changed the constitution, and we are government, one controlled by ISIS and open to anything. But when you want to do Does that mean you would not want Jabhat al-Nusra, and one controlled by something, it’s not about the opposition or to meet with opposition forces that are the more secular Sunni and Kurdish op- about the government; it’s about the Syri- backed by outside countries? position. How will you ever put Syria ans. Sometimes you might have a majority We are going to meet with everyone. We back together again? that doesn’t belong to any side. So when you don’t have conditions. First of all, this image is not accurate, be- want to make a change, as long as you’re cause you cannot talk about ministates talking about a national problem, every Syr- No conditions? without talking about the people who live ian must have a say in it. When you have a No conditions. within those states. The Syrian people are dialogue, it’s not between the government still with the unity of Syria; they still sup- and the opposition; it’s between the different You would meet with everyone? port the government. The factions you refer Syrian parties and entities. That’s how we Yes, we’re going to meet with everyone. to control some areas, but they move from look at dialogue. This is first. Second, what- But you have to ask each one of them: one place to another – they are not stable, ever solution you want to make, at the end Who do you represent? That’s what I and there are no clear lines of separation you should go back to the people through mean. between different forces. Sometimes they a referendum, because you’re talking about mingle with each other and they move. But the constitution, changing the political sys- If I’m correct, the deputy of the UN rep- the main issue is about the population. The tem, whatever. You have to go back to the resentative Staffan de Mistura is in Syria population still supports the state regardless Syrian people. So engaging in a dialogue is now. They’re proposing as an interim of whether they support it politically or not; different from taking decisions, which is not measure a cease-fire and a freeze in Alep- I mean they support the state as the repre- done by the government or the opposition. po. Would you agree to that? sentative of the unity of Syria. So as long Yes, of course. We implemented that before as you have the Syrian people believing in So you’re saying that you would not agree de Mistura was assigned to his mission. We unity, any government and any official can to any kind of political transition unless implemented it in another city called Homs, unify Syria. If the people are divided into there is a referendum that supports it? another big city. We implemented it on two, three, or four groups, no one can unify Exactly. The people should make the de- smaller scales in different, let’s say, suburbs, this country. That’s how we see it. cision, not anyone else. villages, and so on, and it succeeded. So the idea is very good, but it depends on the de- You really think that the Sunnis and the Does that mean there’s no room for ne- tails. De Mistura came to Syria with head- Kurds still believe in a unified Syria? gotiations? lines. We agreed upon certain headlines, If you go to Damascus now, you can see No, we will go to Russia, we will go to these all the different, let’s say, colors of our so- negotiations, but there is another question continued on page II No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page II

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” What is going on in Moscow is not nego- It seems that in recent days, the Ameri- continued from page I tiations about the solution; it’s only prepa- cans have become more supportive of rations for the conference. the Moscow talks. Initially, they were and now we are waiting for him to bring a not. Yesterday, Secretary of State Kerry detailed plan or schedule – A-to-Z plan, let’s So talks about talks? said something to suggest that the United say. We are discussing this with his deputy. Exactly – how to prepare for the talks. So States hopes that the talks go forward and when you start talking about the confer- that they are successful. In the past, you insisted as a precondition ence, what are the principles of the con- They always say things, but it’s about what for a cease-fire that the rebels lay down ference? I’ll go back to the same point. they’re going to do. And you know there’s their weapons first, which obviously from Let me be frank: some of the groups are mistrust between the Syrians and the U.S. their perspective was a nonstarter. Is that puppets, as I said, of other countries. They So just wait till we see what will happen still your precondition? have to implement that agenda, and I at the conference. We choose different scenarios or different know that many countries, like France, for reconciliations. In some areas, we allowed example, do not have any interest in mak- So what do you see as the best way to them to leave inhabited areas in order to ing that conference succeed. So they will strike a deal between all the different par- prevent casualties among civilians. They give them orders to make them fail. You ties in Syria? left these areas with their armaments. In have other personalities who only repre- It’s to deal directly with the rebels, but you other areas, they gave up their armaments sent themselves; they don’t represent an- have two different kinds of rebels. Now, and they left. It depends on what they yone in Syria. Some of them never lived the majority are al Qaeda, which is ISIS offer and what you offer. in Syria, and they know nothing about the and al-Nusra, with other similar factions country. Of course, you have some other that belong to al Qaeda but are smaller. I’m not clear on your answer. Would you personalities who work for the national in- Now, what’s left, what Obama called the insist that they lay down their weapons? terest. So when you talk about the opposi- “fantasy,” what he called the “moderate No, no. That’s not what I mean. In some tion as one entity, who’s going to have in- opposition” – it’s not an opposition; they areas, they left the area with their arma- fluence on the other? That is the question. are rebels. Most of them joined al Qaeda, ments – that is what I mean. It’s not clear yet. So optimism would be and some of them rejoined the army re- an exaggeration. I wouldn’t say I’m pessi- cently. During the last week, a lot of them Are you optimistic about the Moscow mistic. I would say we have hope, in every left those groups and came to the army. talks? action. Are these former defectors who came back? Yes, they came back to the army. They said, Gen. Wesley Clark: “ISIS got started through “We don’t want to fight anymore.” So what’s funding from our friends and allies” left of those is very little. At the end, can by Daniel McAdams you negotiate with al Qaeda, and others? They are not ready to negotiate; they have Many remember General Wesley Clark as Well Clark is back with another very their own plan. The reconciliation that we the man who almost started World War III interesting blurt. started and Mr. de Mistura is going to con- by ordering the British to fire on Russian Far from a spontaneously-arising root- tinue is the practical solution on the ground. peacekeepers who landed in the Kosovo of-all-evil organization, at least according This is the first point. Second, you have to capital, Pristina, before the Americans. to General Wesley Clark, ISIS was creat- implement the Security Council resolution, British commander of the international ed and funded by our “closest allies”. As no. 2170, on al-Nusra and ISIS, which was KFOR peacekeeping force, General Sir the General said: issued a few months ago, and this resolution Mike Jackson, is reported to have replied, “ISIS got started through funding from is very clear about preventing anyone from “I’m not going to start the third world war our friends and allies […] to fight to the supporting these factions militarily, finan- for you.” death against Hezbollah.” cially, or logistically. Yet this is what Tur- One of the most interesting things Which friends and allies, he did not say. key, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are still doing. about Gen. Clark, however, is his propen- But he did suggest that it has become a If it’s not implemented, we cannot talk about sity to blurt fascinating things out every “Frankenstein monster”. [General Wesley a real solution, because there will be obsta- now and again. Clark in an interview with CNN News- cles as long as they spend money. So this Who can forget his interview with Amy room, 17.2.2015] [with the implementation of the resolution Goodman back in 2007 where he revealed So the insider, Gen. Wesley Clark, in- 2170] is how we can start. Third, the West- that one of the top generals in the Penta- forms us that our closest allies in the Mid- ern countries should remove the umbrella gon had showed him a memo from then- dle East have helped create ISIS – the or- still referred to by some as “supporting the defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld not ganization we are spending billions of moderate opposition.” They know we have long after the 9/11 attack outlining US dollars to fight. mainly al Qaeda, ISIS, and al-Nusra. global war plans. According to Clark at We do know that Israel, Saudi Ara- the time, the general said: bia, and the other Gulf States have long Would you be prepared to take any con- “[W]e’re going to take out seven coun- been obsessed with fighting Hezbollah fidence-building measures in advance tries in five years, starting with Iraq, and and Assad, and that both are keen to keep of the talks? For example, prisoner ex- then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, the US fighting on their behalf in the re- changes, or ending the use of barrel Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” I said, “Is gion. Could these be who he was think- bombs, or releasing political prisoners, it classified?” He said, “Yes, sir.” I said, ing about? in order to build confidence on the other “Well, don’t show it to me.” And I saw Maybe rather than continue to expand side that you’re willing to negotiate in him a year or so ago, and I said, “You re- the US military presence in the region to good faith? member that?” He said, “Sir, I didn’t show fight ISIS, it‘s time for the US to have a It’s not a personal relationship; it’s about you that memo! I didn’t show it to you!” really good talk with its “allies” in the mechanisms. In politics, you only talk [General Wesley Clark, Democracy Now!, Middle East. • interview, 2.3.2007] Source: Ron Paul Institute, 19.2.2015 continued on page III No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page III Current Concerns/roho Resources, Map Grafics:Source: Current

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” So have you offered amnesty to fighters? eign military power becomes established continued from page II Yes, of course, and we did it many times. in a country, it can be very difficult to get them to leave again. about mechanisms. You don’t have to trust How many – do you have numbers? Iran is an important country in this region, someone to do something. If you have a I don’t have the precise numbers, but it’s and it was influential before the crisis. Its in- clear mechanism, you can reach a result. thousands, not hundreds, thousands of fluence is not related to the crisis; it’s relat- That is what the people want. So the ques- militants. ed to its role, its political position in gener- tion is, what is the mechanism that we can al. When you talk about influence, various put in place? This takes us back to the And are you prepared to say to the en- factors make a certain country influen- same question: Who are they? What do tire opposition that if you lay down your tial. In the Middle East, in our region, you they represent? What’s their influence? weapons, you will be safe? have the same society, the same ideology, What is the point of building trust with Yes, I said it publicly in one of my speeches. many similar things, the same tribes, going people with no influence? across borders. So if you have influence on And how can you guarantee their safe- one factor, your influence will be crossing When two parties come together, it’s ty? Because they have reasons to distrust the border. This is part of our nature. It’s often very useful for one party to show your government. not related to the conflict. Of course, when the other that it’s really interested in mak- You cannot. But at the end, let’s say that if there is conflict and anarchy, another coun- ing progress by taking steps unilaterally more than 50 percent succeed, more than try will be more influential in your coun- to try and bring down the temperature. 50 percent in such circumstances would try. When you don’t have the will to have a The measures that I described would have be a success. So that’s how. Nothing is ab- sovereign country, you will have that influ- that effect. solute. You have to expect some negative ence. Now, the answer to your question is, You have something concrete, and that is aspects, but they are not the major aspects. Iran doesn’t have any ambitions in Syria, reconciliation. People gave up their ar- and as a country, as Syria, we would never maments; we gave them amnesty; they Let me change the subject slightly. Hez- allow any country to influence our sover- live normal lives. It is a real example. bollah, Iran’s Quds Force, and Iranian- eignty. We wouldn’t accept it, and the Irani- So this is a measure of confidence. On trained Shiite militias are all now play- ans don’t want it either. We allow coopera- the other hand, what is the relation be- ing significant roles in the fight against tion. But if you allowed any country to have tween that opposition and the prisoners? rebels here in Syria. Given this involve- influence, why not allow the Americans to There’s no relation. They are not their ment, are you worried about Iran’s in- have influence in Syria? That’s the problem prisoners anyway. So it is completely a fluence over the country? After all, Iraq different issue. or even Lebanon shows that once a for- continued on page IV No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page IV

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” ty, just an excuse, because they wanted to as- What impact are falling oil prices having continued from page III sassinate somebody from Hezbollah. on the war in Syria? After all, your two closest allies and supporters, Iran and with the Americans and with the West: they But the Israelis have been very careful Russia, are very dependent on oil prices, want to have influence without cooperation. since the war began to not get involved and they have suffered tremendous dam- except when they felt their interests were age to their budgets in recent months as the Let me just push you a little bit further. directly threatened. price of oil has fallen. Do you worry about Last week, a commander of the Iranian That’s not true, because they’ve been at- their ability to continue helping you? Revolutionary Guard Corps, of their air- tacking Syria now for nearly two years, No, because they don’t give us money, so space command, Hajizadeh, said in an in- without any reason. it has no effect on Syria. Even if they are terview in “Der Spiegel” that Iran’s su- going to help us [with money], it would be preme leader has ordered his forces to But in each case, they say it’s because in the form of loans. We’re like any other build and operate missile plants in Syria. Hezbollah was being given weapons from country: we have loans. Sometimes we That suggests that Iran is playing a great- Iran through Syria. pay; sometimes we take loans. er role and doing it on its own. They attacked army positions. What is the No, no. Playing a role through cooperation relation between Hezbollah and the army? But their military support costs them is different from playing a role through [Iran and Russia] money, and if they have hegemony. Those were cases where the army acci- less money to pay for their own militaries, dentally shelled ... won’t that become a problem? So everything that Iran is doing ... ? Those are false allegations. No, because when you pay for armaments Of course, in full cooperation with the or any other goods, you don’t have a prob- Syrian government, and that’s always the So what do you think Israel’s agenda is? lem. case. They are supporting the rebels in Syria. It’s very clear. Because whenever we So you’re saying everything you’re getting Now Iran is one thing to deal with be- make advances in some place, they make from the Russians and the Iranians ... ? cause it’s a country. But you also have mi- an attack in order to undermine the army. So far, we haven’t seen any changes, so litias, which are substate actors and there- It’s very clear. That’s why some in Syria what the influence is on them, I cannot an- fore more complicated. One problem with joke: “How can you say that al Qaeda swer. working with these groups is that, unlike a doesn’t have an air force? They have the government, they may not be willing to co- Israeli air force.” You’ve said in past interviews that you and operate and it’s not always clear who to your government have made mistakes in talk to. Are you worried about your abili- To return to my question about militias, the course of the war. What are those mis- ty to control these forces and to rein them do you feel confident that you’ll be able takes? Is there anything that you regret? in if you need to? And, a related question, to control them when this war ends? Be- Every government, every person, makes this week, Israel attacked Hezbollah forc- cause after all, to have effective sov- mistakes, so that’s again self-evident; it’s es in the Golan Heights, and the Israelis ereignty, any government has to have a given. But if you want to talk about po- suggest that they attacked them because what’s called a monopoly of force, and litical mistakes, you have to ask yourself, Hezbollah was planning an attack on Isra- that’s very hard when you have these in- what are the major decisions that you took el from Syrian territory. Doesn’t this also dependent armed groups running around. since the crisis started? We took three highlight the danger of allowing militias That’s self-evident: the state cannot fulfill main decisions: First of all, to be open with their own agendas, not necessarily its commitment to society if it’s not the to all dialogue. Second, we changed the your agenda, to come into the war? only master of order. constitution and the law according to what Do you mean Syrian, or any other mili- many in the opposition were saying, alleg- tias in general? But you see in Iraq how hard that is. It edly, that this is the reason of the crisis. is now very difficult for the government Third, we took the decision to defend our I mean especially Hezbollah and the Iraqi to control all the Shiite militias that were country, to defend ourself, to fight terror- Shiite militias. empowered during the war. ists. So I don’t think those three decisions It’s natural to say that only the institutions There’s a very important reason in Iraq: it’s can be described as wrong or mistakes. If of the government, of the state, let’s say, are because Paul Bremer didn’t create a constitu- you want to talk about practice, any offi- the guarantee for stability and to put things tion for the state; he created one for factions. cial in any place can make mistakes, but in order. Any other factor that would play a Whereas in Syria, why did the army stand there’s a difference between practice mis- role in parallel with the government could fast for four years in spite of this embargo, takes and policy mistakes. be positive, could be good in certain circum- this war, tens of countries around the world stances, but it will always have side effects, attacking Syria and supporting the rebels? Can you describe some of the practical negative side effects. That is a natural thing. Because it has a real constitution, a real, sec- mistakes? And having militias who support the gov- ular constitution. That is the reason. In Iraq, I would have to go back to officials on ernment is a side effect of the war. You have it is sectarian. When you talk about a sectar- the ground; there’s nothing in my mind. I it, but you’re going to try to control this side ian constitution, it’s not a constitution. would rather talk about policies. effect. Nobody will feel more comfortable than if they are dealing with government in- But what will you do about these militias Do you feel there have been any policy stitutions, including the army and the police when the war ends? mistakes that you’re responsible for? and so on. But talking about what happened Things should go back to normal, like be- I mentioned the major decisions. in Quneitra is something completely differ- fore the war. ent. Never has an operation against Israel But you said those are not mistakes. happened through the Golan Heights since And you’re confident ... ? To defend the country from terrorism? If the cease-fire in 1974. It has never happened. Yes. We don’t have any other option. That I wanted to say that it’s a mistake, then So for Israel to allege that there was a plan is the role of the government. This is self- for an operation – that’s a far cry from reali- evident. continued on page V No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page V

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” continued from page IV “The Syrian people are still with the unity of Syria; they still support the gov- to be correct would be to support the ter- ernment. The factions you refer to control some areas, but they move from rorists. one place to another – they are not stable, and there are no clear lines of separation between different forces. Sometimes they mingle with each other I’m just wondering if there’s anything you and they move. But the main issue is about the population. The population did that you wish in retrospect you had done differently. still supports the state regardless of whether they support it politically or Regarding these three main decisions, not; I mean they support the state as the representative of the unity of Syria.” they were correct, and I am confident about this. much the United States wants to influence What steps would you be prepared to In terms of lower-level practical mistakes, the Turks. Because if the terrorists can make to show Washington that you’re are people being held accountable, say, withstand the air strikes for this period, it willing to cooperate? for human rights abuses, for the excessive means that the Turks keep sending them ar- I think they are the ones who have to show use of force, or the indiscriminate target- maments and money. Did the United States the will. We are already fighting on the ing of civilians, those kinds of things? put any pressure on Turkey to stop the sup- ground; we don’t have to show that. Yes. Some people were detained because port of al Qaeda? They didn’t; they haven’t. they breached the law in that regard, and So it’s not only about military involvement. The United States is currently training that happens of course in such circum- This is first. Second, if you want to talk 5,000 Syrian fighters who are scheduled stances. about the military involvement, American to enter Syria in May. Now, U.S. Gener- officials publicly acknowledge that without al John Allen has been very careful to In terms of their treatment of civilians or troops on the ground, they cannot achieve say that these troops will not be direct- protesters, is that what you’re referring anything concrete. Which troops on the ed at the Syrian government, but will be to? grounds are you depending on? focused on ISIS alone. What will you do Yes, during the protests at the very begin- when these troops enter the country? Will ning, yes. So are you suggesting there should be US you allow them to enter? Will you attack troops on the ground? them? Since the United States began its air cam- Not US troops. I’m talking about the prin- Any troops that don’t work in coopera- paign against the Islamic State, Syria and ciple, the military principle. I’m not saying tion with the Syrian army are illegal and the United States have become strange American troops. If you want to say I want should be fought. That’s very clear. kinds of partners and are effectively co- to make war on terrorism, you have to have operating in that aspect of the fight. Do troops on the ground. The question you Even if this brings you into conflict with you see the potential for increased coop- have to ask the Americans is, which troops the United States? eration with the United States? are you going to depend on? Definitely, it Without cooperation with Syrian troops, Yes, the potential is definitely always has to be Syrian troops. This is our land; they are illegal, and are puppets of anoth- there, because we’ve been talking about this is our country. We are responsible. We er country, so they are going to be fought or asking for international cooperation don’t ask for American troops at all. like any other illegal militia fighting against terrorism for 30 years. But this against the Syrian army. But that brings potential needs will. The question that So what would you like to see from the another question, about those troops. we have is, how much will does the Unit- United States? You mentioned more pres- Obama said that they are a fantasy. How ed States have to really fight terrorism on sure on Turkey ... did fantasy become reality? the ground? So far, we haven’t seen any- Pressure on Turkey, pressure on Saudi thing concrete in spite of the attacks on Arabia, pressure on Qatar to stop support- I think with this kind of training program. ISIS in northern Syria. There’s nothing ing the rebels. Second, to make legal co- But you can’t make extremism moderate. concrete. What we’ve seen so far is just, operation with Syria and start by asking let’s say, window-dressing, nothing real. permission from our government to make There are still some moderate members Since the beginning of these attacks, ISIS such attacks. They didn’t, so it’s illegal. of the opposition. They are weaker and has gained more land in Syria and Iraq. weaker all the time, but I think the U.S. I’m sorry, I’m not clear on that point. You government is trying very carefully to en- What about the air strikes on Koba- want them to make legal ... ? sure that the fighters it trains are not rad- ni? Those have been effective in slowing Of course, if you want to make any kind icals. down ISIS. of action in another country, you ask their But the question is, why is the moderate Kobani is a small city, with about 50,000 permission. opposition – if you call them opposition; inhabitants. It’s been more than three we call them rebels – why are they weak- months since the beginning of the attacks I see. So a formal agreement between er and weaker? They are still weaker be- [of the US], and they haven’t finished. Washington and Damascus to allow for cause of developments in the Syrian cri- Same areas, same al Qaeda factions occu- air strikes? sis. Bringing 5,000 from the outside will pying them – the Syrian army liberated in The format we can discuss later, but you make most of them defect and join ISIS less than three weeks. It means they’re not start with permission. Is it an agreement? and other groups, which is what happened serious about fighting terrorism. Is it a treaty? That’s another issue. during the last year. So that’s why I said it’s still illusory. It is not the 5,000 that are So are you saying you want greater U.S. And would you be willing to take steps to illusory but the idea itself that is illusory. involvement in the war against ISIS? make cooperation easier with Washington? It’s not about greater involvement by the With any country that is serious about Part of what makes Washington so re- military, because it’s not only about the fighting terrorism, we are ready to make luctant to cooperate with you more for- military; it’s about politics. It’s about how cooperation, if they’re serious. continued on page VI No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page VI

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” continued from page V cc. The interviewer was Jonathan Tepper- inger (the magazine’s managing director man, managing editor of the magazine from 1977 to 1981), Madeleine Albright, Foreign Affairs that is published every George H. W. Bush, Dick Cheney, George mally are the allegations of serious two months as the leading forum of dis- Soros, John Negroponte, Colin Pow- human rights abuses by your govern- cussion and the most influential magazine ell (current board member), John Bol- ment. These allegations aren’t just from in US-foreign affairs and international re- ton, Timothy Geithner and chairmen of the US government; they are also from lationships. international trusts and banks like Alan the UN Human Rights Commission, the Editorially independent it is published Greenspan, Janet Yellen, Henry Paulson, independent Special Investigative Com- by the Council on Foreign Relations, a US but also lawyers or army-generals like mission of the UN. You are familiar with American think-tank organized under Stanley McCrystal or David Petraeus and private law, which is attributed to play last not least also leading personalities these allegations, I’m sure. They include a leading role in America’s strategy and of media-concerns like ABC, CNN, NBC denying access for relief groups to refu- geopolitics since its existence. Amongst and so on and enterprises like Goldman gee camps, indiscriminate bombing of ci- its (currently 4,900) members are, respec- Sachs, JP Morgan, Chase, Bank of Amer- vilian targets, photo evidence provided tively were, famous US-politicians and ica, Merill Lynch, Exxon Mobile and Mc by the defector code-named Caesar, who US-Presidents: It was founded in 1921 by Kinsey and so on. made a presentation to the US Congress the presidential consultant Edward M. Based on the model of Chatham House showing terrible torture and abuse in Syr- House, the journalist Walter Lippmann and the Council on Foreign Relations the and the bankers Paul Warburg and Otto Deutsche Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik ian prisons. Are you prepared to take ac- Hermann Kahn. Amongst the former DGAP (known as German Council on For- tion on these issues in order to make co- and current members respectively board eign Relations) was founded. operation with the United States easier? members are Allen Dulles, Dwight D. Ei- The funny thing about this administration senhower, David Rockefeller, John Mc- (compare also: net presence of those is that it’s the first one in history to build Cloy, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Henry Kiss- organisations and Wikipedia) its evaluation and later decisions on so- cial media. We call it a social media ad- ministration, which is not politics. None of me to answer, I have to answer about some- this war, so you cannot look at it as being these allegations you mentioned are con- thing that is concrete, proved, and verified. about territory. Second, wherever the Syri- crete; all of them are allegations. You can an army has wanted to go, it has succeeded. bring photos from anyone and say this is Are you prepared to categorically deny But the Syrian army cannot have a presence torture. Who took the pictures? Who is he? that there’s torture and abuse of prison- on every kilometer of Syrian territory. That’s Nobody knows. There is no verification of ers in Syria? impossible. We made some advances in the any of this evidence, so it’s all allegations If there’s any unbiased and fair way to past two years. But if you want to ask me, “Is without evidence. verify all those allegations, of course we it going well?” I say that every war is bad, are ready. That would be in our interest. because you always lose, you always have But Caesar’s photos have been looked at destruction in a war. The main question is, by independent European investigators. What impact would a US-Iranian nuclear what have we won in this war? What we won No, no. It’s funded by Qatar, and they say deal have on Syria? in this war is that the Syrian people have re- it’s an anonymous source. So nothing is clear Nothing, because the crisis here was never jected the terrorists; the Syrian people sup- or proven. The pictures are not clear which part of the negotiations, and Iran refused port their government more; the Syrian peo- person they show. They’re just pictures of a to make it such. And that is correct, be- ple support their army more. Before talking head, for example, with some skulls. Who cause there is no link between the two. about winning territory, talk about winning said this is done by the government, not by the hearts and minds and the support of the the rebels? Who said this is a Syrian vic- But many in the United States anticipate Syrian people. That’s what we have won. tim, not someone else? For example, photos that if Iran and the United States strike What’s left is logistical; it’s technical. That published at the beginning of the crisis were a deal, it will make cooperation between is a matter of time. The war is moving in a from Iraq and Yemen. Second, the United the two countries much easier. People positive way. But that doesn’t mean you’re States in particular and the West in gener- therefore wonder if Iran might decide to not losing on the national level. Because you al are in no position to talk about human reduce its support for Syria as a favor to lose lives, you lose infrastructure; the war it- rights. They are responsible for most of the the U.S. government. self has very bad social effects. killings in the region, especially the United We have never had any positive informa- States after getting into Iraq, and the United tion about such a thing, never. I cannot Do you think you will eventually defeat Kingdom after invading Libya, and the situ- discuss something which I don’t have any the rebels militarily? ation in Yemen, and what happened in Egypt information about. If they don’t have external support, and in supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, and no, let’s say, supply and recruitment of terrorism in Tunisia. All these problems hap- Describe whether you think the war is new terrorists within Syria, there will be pened because of the United States. They going well from the government’s perspec- no problem defeating them. Even today we were the first ones to trample international tive. Independent analysts have suggested don’t have a problem militarily. The prob- law and Security Council resolutions, not us. that your government currently controls 45 lem is that they still have this continuous to 50 percent of the territory of Syria. supply, mainly from Turkey. That may or may not be true, but those First of all, if you want to describe the arena are separate issues, and that does not ab- – it’s not a war between two countries, be- So Turkey seems to be the neighbor that solve your government of responsibility. tween two armies where you have an in- you’re most concerned about? No, no. The United States accused, so we cursion and you lost some territory that you Exactly. Logistically, and about terrorist have to answer that part. I’m not saying want to regain. It’s not like this. We’re talk- financing from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, if there’s any human rights breach or in- ing about rebels that infiltrate areas inhab- but through Turkey. fringement, the government has no respon- ited by civilians. You have Syrian terrorists sibility. That is another issue. The second that support foreign terrorists to come and part of your question is about the allega- hide among civilians. They launch what you tions. They’re still allegations. If you want call guerrilla attacks. That is the shape of continued on page VII No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns documentation Page VII

”‘Whatever solution you want to make …‘” supporting the Muslim Brotherhood a few But in the context of Syria, what would a continued from page VI years ago in Egypt and other countries? better policy look like? What did you get from supporting some- One that preserves stability in the Mid- Do you blame Erdogan personally? This one like Erdogan? One of the officials dle East. Syria is the heart of the Middle is a man you once had a fairly good rela- from your country asked me seven years East. Everybody knows that. If the Mid- tionship with. ago in Syria at the end of a meeting, “How dle East is sick, the whole world will be Yes. Because he belongs to the Muslim do you think we can solve the problem in unstable. In 1991, when we started the Brotherhood ideology, which is the base Afghanistan?” I told him, “You have to be peace process, we had a lot of hope. Now, of al Qaeda; it was the first political Is- able to deal with officials who are not pup- after more than 20 years, things are not lamic organization that promoted violent pets, who can tell you no.” So for the Unit- at square one; they’re much below that political Islam in the early twentieth cen- ed States, only looking for puppet officials square. So the policy should be to help tury. He belongs strongly and is a staunch and client states is not how you can serve peace in the region, to fight terrorism, to believer in these values. He’s very fanati- the interests of your country. You are the promote secularism, to support this area cal, and that’s why he still supports ISIS. greatest power in the world now; you have economically, to help upgrade the mind He is personally responsible for what hap- too many things to disseminate around the and society, like you did in your country. pened. world: knowledge, innovation, IT, with its That is the supposed mission of the United positive repercussions. How can you be the States, not to launch wars. Launching war Do you see any other potential partners best in these fields yet the worst in the po- doesn’t make you a great power. in the region? For example, General el- litical field? This is a contradiction. That is © 2015 Council on Foreign Relations, editor of Sisi in Egypt? what I think the American people should Foreign Affairs. First published by Council on For- I wouldn’t talk about him personally, but analyze and question. Why do you fail in eign Relations, editor of Foreign Affairs. Distrib- as long as Egypt and the Egyptian army every war? You can create war, you can uted by Tribune Content Agency, LLC, in printed and the government are fighting the same create problems, but you cannot solve any version published in Foreign Affairs of March/ kind of terrorists as in Iraq, of course, we problem. Twenty years of the peace pro- April 2015 can consider these countries eligible to co- cess in Palestine and Israel, and you can- English and French under www.voltairenet.org/ operate with in fighting the same enemy. not do anything with this, in spite of the article186617.html fact that you are a great country. Two final questions, if I may. Can you im- agine a scenario in which Syria returns to the status quo as it was before the fighting started almost four years ago? In what sense? Curse of the evil deed In the sense that Syria is whole again, it is not divided, it controls its borders, it From Libya to Syria and Iraq and through- “Curse of the Evil Deed” is the title of starts to rebuild, and it is at peace and a out the whole Middle East the interven- the late Peter Scholl-Latour’s last book predominantly secular country. tion forces (the Atlantic Alliance and Is- about the failure of the West in the Orient. If you look at a military map now, the rael) are now disgraced and unmasked by He and many other less famous journal- Syrian army exists in every corner. Not their Islamic proxy warriors. ists have been pointing for a long time to every place; by every corner, I mean These proteges of the western world the risks of playing with fire, which is geo- north, south, east, west, and between. If have committed heinous violations of politically motivated (Greater Middle East you didn’t believe in a unified Syria, that human rights since the beginning of the Initiative) of the powers mentioned above. Syria can go back to its previous position, so-called Arabian spring (2011), atroci- Was that the reason for the poor media you wouldn’t send the army there, as a ties which were mostly reported in a pe- covering of his passing last August? government. If you don’t believe in this as culiar value-neutral manner by our lead- a people, you would have seen people in ing media for a long time. Protest hardly Urs Graf, Zurich Syria isolated into different ghettos based stirred in this country as long as the suffi- on ethnic and sectarian or religious iden- ciently demonized Muamar al-Gaddafi or tity. As long as this is not the situation, the the thousands of less known civil servants, people live with each other; the army is government soldiers and “infidels” from everywhere; the army is made up of every Libya to Syria were publicly lynched by color of Syrian society, or the Syrian fab- various radical groups celebrated as “op- ric. This means that we all believe Syria position” by the West. should go back to the way it was. We don’t On the contrary: The French Foreign have any other option, because if it doesn’t Minister Fabius for example, called their go back to its previous position, that will crimes in Syria “bon boulot”, and Presi- affect every surrounding country. It’s one dent Hollande welcomed the emirates fabric – it’s a domino effect that will have Baba Amr’ s exiled ruler of terror “amis influence from the Atlantic to the Pacific. du peuple Syrien” in Paris. US Senator John McCain consulted even personally If you were able to deliver a message to with the caliph Ibrahim who in the mean- President Obama today, what would it be? time became ingloriously known. And it I think the normal thing that you ask any is well known that the militant opposition official in the world is to work for the in- in Syria – whether it is called “Free Syrian terests of his people. And the question I Army”, “Al-Nusra” or just “ISIS” – is fi- would ask any American is, what do you nanced mainly from the Turkish area, that get from supporting terrorists in our coun- is to say by NATO (!) and the allied Gulf try, in our region? What did you get from States including Saudi Arabia. ISBN 978-3-549-07412-1 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 9

Do unilateral sanctions violate human rights? The UN Human Rights Council commissioned an investigation by Thomas Kaiser The Advisory Committee of the UN felt, because “the most vulnerable in soci- however, scant. While the financial sanc- Human Rights Council met in Gene- ety, such as women, children, old and dis- tions imposed on the Islamic Republic of va during the week of 23 to 27 Febru- abled people and the poor” are the most Iran do not, in principle, cover medicine ary. This committee – called the Adviso- affected. The working group’s report rec- and medical equipment, they make it al- ry Board – is composed of 18 independent ommends, among other things, to appoint most impossible for Iranian importers to experts who are elected based on a key a special rapporteur to investigate human finance the import of medical equipment that reflects the continental distribution of rights violations as a result of unilateral co- and medicine.” The sanctions have “made the 47 member states of the Human Rights ercive measures and to document them. international payments to Western compa- Council. Last Tuesday’s meeting included By reading the report in more detail, nies almost impossible. As a result, West- among other topics the report of the work- one can imagine the impact on the sanc- ern pharmaceutical companies – often the ing group dealing with the issues of uni- tioned countries and what they mean for sole producers of these medicines – have lateral sanctions and their result on the the population living there. all but stopped exporting to the Islamic human rights situation. Thus, an impor- Republic of Iran, and every year tens of tant issue has been taken up by the Human Cuba thousands of patients die as a result.” Rights Council that was debated for some Here especially children and women are time by international lawyers: To what ex- affected. It is reported, “that the embargo Gaza Strip tent do unilateral sanctions violate human had contributed to malnutrition that main- “The Government of Israel”, the report says, rights? ly affected women and children, poor “treats this area [the Gaza Strip] as a for- For the general public, it has almost be- water supply and lack of medicine”. In ad- eign entity, submitting its inhabitants to a come habit-forming: If a state has adopt- dition, the embargo meant that “the State severe financial and economic blockade. ed a policy that does not fit the powerful of has no access to chemicals that it needs During the 52 days of fighting in July and this world, reasons are created to impose for drinking water treatment”, which has August 2014, Israeli bombs destroyed or sanctions on that country. Even within the inevitably led to a higher morbidity and severely damaged more than 53,000 hous- EU, the sovereign state of Austria was sub- mortality rate. Since the embargo has al- es in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing block- jected to a sanctions regime in 2000 for al- ready persisted for more than 50 years ade violates the social, economic and cul- leged democratic deficits. Quite often, there and has not been abolished by President tural rights of the people suffering from the are economic sanctions, whose effects are Obama today, one can only imagine the unilateral sanctions. Undernourishment is desastrous. A look at history shows that es- suffering in the country. rampant, especially among children. Tens pecially the US and its allies have repeat- of thousands of families live in the ruins of edly taken unilateral coercive measures or Zimbabwe their houses or in unheated containers fur- unilateral sanctions. Cuba, for example, is In 2002, the country’s leadership was sanc- nished by the local authorities. In Decem- still a victim of Western coercive measures tioned by the EU. The origin of these sanc- ber 2014, the death from cold of a number of that have left an immense economic dam- tions came from the land reform under children under the age of 10 was reported to age. The Latin American country of Vene- President Robert Mugabe. According to the the United Nations Relief and Works Agen- zuela is affected by US sanctions because report “the country’s population of 13 mil- cy for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”. it simply does not abide by the neoliber- lion people has suffered from the sanctions. After the report was presented by the al dictate of the United States. Other states Poverty and unemployment rates are high working group, there was initially a dis- suffer from this western power politics as […]. Diseases such as HIV/AIDS, typhoid cussion among the members of the Ad- well. The most recent example in this se- and malaria give the country an average visory Committee and thereafter, the ries of unilateral coercive measures and po- life expectancy of between 53 to 55 years. president of the Committee opened the litical sanctions against Russia: They were […] UNICEF found that some 34 percent discussion for the ambassadors present. imposed unilaterally by the US and the of children under 5 were underdeveloped, 2 The diplomatic representative of Cuba EU because they accused the Russians of percent were stunted and 10 percent under- seized the opportunity to draw attention to supporting the separatist military in east- weight.” The poor conditions in the country the injustice of the US sanctions against ern Ukraine. A concrete proof has not been have led next to a high death rate and to a his country. He condemned the sanctions, submitted, but the sanctions were imposed. strong migration with big risks. which came into force over 50 years ago, Member countries are forced to participate, as a violation of human rights. The impo- although several EU member states includ- Iran sition of sanctions was an act of despot- ing Greece and Austria have taken position The economic situation of the Iranian ism, which means an unlawful interfer- against a prolongation of sanctions. The people, according to the report, is desas- ence in the internal affairs of another state. fact that these arbitrary unilateral sanc- trous. “The sanctions have triggered a col- He also sees no change in the US position tions are highly problematic with respect lapse in industry, skyrocketing inflation and denounces them as a blatant violation to human rights can be seen by reading the and massive unemployment.” In addition, of human rights and the UN Charter. investigation report, the working group has the health care system is severely affect- Sanctions are an unlawful interference prepared on behalf of the Advisory Com- ed in Iran. “Although the United States of in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, mittee. The working group has investigat- America and the European Union claim was argued by the diplomatic representa- ed the effects on several states which are that the sanctions do not apply to humani- tive of Venezuela as well. The aim of these under a sanctions regime: Cuba, Zimba- tarian items, in actual fact they have deep- sanctions was to bring about a change of bwe, Iran and the Gaza Strip. The effects of ly affected the delivery and availability of government (regime change). Measures these sanctions are desastrous and are ap- medical supplies […] every year, 85,000 against a State should only be taken by the parently a violation of fundamental human Iranians are diagnosed with some form of UN, i.e. by the Security Council, and not rights. The report adds that especially the cancer; the facilities for providing them “adverse effects in the Civil Society” are with chemotherapy and radiotherapy are, continued on page 10 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 10

Europe and Russia – who wants war, who wants peace? by Karl Müller

Two and a half weeks after the agree- fortunately this paper is neither a scientif- Russia is as negative as ever. Not even in ment between the President of France, the ic nor a serious factual analysis or opinion. the 1960s, when the Soviet leader Nikita Ukraine, Russia and the German Chancel- There are various explanations for this Khrushchev threatened the United States lor on a ceasefire in the East of Ukraine development on the propaganda front. directly, was the gap so deep,” wrote the in a joint declaration and after the simul- Some say that Western policy is not re- Russian news agency Sputnik News (for- taneously reached agreement on measures ally interested in a ceasefire, it wants to in- merly Ria Novosti) on 27 February. Which to ensure the ceasefire there has indeed crease tensions with Russia and provoke an path will Europe follow, which one will been some progress. The number of com- escalation! Certainly this is true for a num- the Germans follow? The public protests bat operations declined, prisoners were ex- ber of US politicians and senior NATO mili- against the media propaganda battle have changed and heavy weapons were with- tary leaders such as the Commander in Chief not abated in Germany. In the meantime, drawn from the immediate front line. in Europe, US General Philip Breedlove. anyone interested can inform themselves However, no progress has been made The United States “need” an enemy and well by reading a number of recent books on the propaganda front. On the contra- confrontation, a number of analysts believe. and a large number of other publications, ry, the pitch in the Western media and by Economically, they have weakened and now describing how the Germans are to be ma- Western politicians and military – apart seek to polarize the world, and especially to nipulated into a confrontation with Russia, from interesting exceptions – is becoming bind EU-Europe more closely to themselves. but also towards a comprehensive readiness ever more acrid. Even in Germany, whose But will this work without Europe? for war. But does the “Sportpalast” speech Chancellor was involved in the agreement Others say that Europe does not want still work? Even then it was a propaganda on the ceasefire. war with Russia. Particularly, the German lie – and profoundly contradicted human The German private mainstream media propaganda battle is not a preparation for an nature. “Another war in Europe? Not in reports are very gross. But also the public imminent military confrontation with Rus- our name!” A few months ago, more than broadcasting and public television stations sia, but the attempt to impress and to bring 60 German personalities from public life like ARD and ZDF are further demonising the domestic audience in line politically. have expressed under this premise, what – in a rather simplistic fashion – the Rus- In fact, it is striking that for years the Ger- millions of Germans and billions of people sian President and portray Russia as the man government has been unable to con- around the world think, feel and want. This “evil empire”. The German government vince the majority of its population that Ger- must be the basis of German and European opposed, however, the prohibiton of work many must take on more “responsibility” in foreign policy. Then there will be no more for Russian journalists in the EU countries the world – even with war-like means. From war in Europe. • – which was proposed by bodies of the Eu- Security Conference to Security Conference ropean Union, and which was especially German politicians like Joachim Gauck, Ur- favoured by the governments of the Baltic sula von der Leyen or Frank-Walter Stein- Current Concerns States, Poland and Romania. Nonetheless meier do support this effort. Now even the The international journal for independent Germany plans its own English-language German Minister of Defence while refer- thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, channel at the public broadcaster Deutsche ring to Russia, wants to reinstate a previous- and for the promotion and respect Welle, which is to counter “Russian propa- ly discharged tank battalion (about 500 sol- of public international law, human rights ganda”. The German Foreign Ministry has diers with around 50 tanks). Militarily this is and humanitarian law written a “set of arguments” to counter al- largely meaningless, but it is eloquent sym- Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative leged Russian claims on the East-West re- bol politics. Finally, the Germans are to un- Editor: Erika Vögeli lationship and Ukraine circulating it within derstand that great dangers are imminent … Address: Current Concerns, the ministry and the “Bundestag”. But un- Previous surveys showed, that in the past P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich years the German population has become Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 ”Do unilateral sanctions violate …” Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 continued from page 10 even more restrained to take on “responsi- bility” in the context of a “robust mandate”, E-Mail: [email protected] unilaterally by a powerful state, simply be- as it has always been since the end of World Subscription details: cause the country concerned was unwill- War II. In 2014, the German Körber Foun- published regularly electronically as PDF file ing to submit to the dictates of this power- dation has commissioned a representative Annual subscription rate of ful state. He sees this as a violation of the survey of TNS Policy Research. The title of SFr. 40.-, € 30.-, £ 25.-, $ 40.- for the following countries: principles of the UN Charter. the study is “Interfering or retaining?” On Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, During the 28th session of the Human the first page the study already summariz- Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Rights Council, which will take place es the main result: “The interest in foreign- Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- from 2 to 27 March this report – which policy issues is high. However, the willing- lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, was started by the Human Rights Coun- ness to engage in a stronger international Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, cil in September 2013 – will be present- commitment is rather slight and fell sharply United Kingdom, USA ed and voted on for its adoption. If it is in the last 20 years. The Germans are par- Annual subscription rate of SFr. 20.-, € 15.-, £ 12,50, $ 20.- accepted, a special rapporteur can be es- ticularly sceptical with regard to German for all other countries. tablished and possibly, international norms soldiers in operation. The Germans have a Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 and standards can be created. clear priority for civilian capabilities in for- • The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to Source: A/HRC/28/74 Research-based prog- eign policy commitments.” the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily ress report of the Human Rights Council Advisory In the US, the impact of the propa- reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns. Committee containing recommendations on mech- ganda war against Russia in recent years anisms to assess the negative impact of unilater- © 2011. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or al coercive measures on the enjoyment of human has shown in the results of opinion polls. transmission of this publication may be made without written rights and to promote accountability “The attitude of the Americans regarding permission. No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 11

“Putin is the perfect devil for the US and NATO” Interview with Philippe de Villiers*, French politician and writer Le Figaro: What cipatory phase. Now, François Hollande not forget the real causes of the Ukrain- do you think of must deliver the Mistral ships to Russia ian crisis. First, there was the coup insti- the Minsk Agree- and thus fulfill the trade agreement signed gated by NATO. Next, the Ukrainian gov- ment, which was by France and funded by the Russians al- ernment’s mistake to prohibit the Russian negotiated by ready with one billion euro. France must language. Finally, the American claim to François Hol- also lift the sanctions which are currently integrate Ukraine into NATO. How could lande and Ange- warlike acts and which punish the French one ever come to get the idea that the Rus- la Merkel with economy even more than the Russian one. sians would accept NATO right on their Vladimir Putin? The US economy is in no way affected. doorstep? Vladimir Putin does not want a Philippe de But most importantly, rather than to fix- fragmentation of Ukraine. He just wants Philippe de Villiers Villiers: The ate the structure of an artificial Europe of the recognition of the mother tongue in (picture ma) Minsk agree- Maastricht prepare for a real, meaningful the Russian-speaking areas, a special sta- ment is very im- and sound future Europe, coupled with a tus for these regions and the neutrality of portant because it includes four in- great cultural and strategic partnership Ukraine towards NATO. novations. First of all, they allowed with Russia. One Europe from the Atlan- the war parties to step out of the logic tic to the Urals. Russia seems to regain its national pride. of war. The diplomatic way of small Is there not the risk of an excess of na- steps might promise a peaceful future. The agreement has already been violated tionalism? Second, two major European countries, by the Ukrainian separatists. Is Vladimir The difference with France is the follow- France and Germany, led these nego- Putin to be trusted? ing. In Russia there is a real restoration tiations and sided with Russia as guar- When we return to the beginning of the of the moral, civic, patriotic and spiritual antors for the implementation of the events, one can clearly notice a construct values. Younger Russians learn the pride treaty. It is obvious that neither the Eu- of lies by the European Union and wish- to be Russian. Amongst the Russians one ropean Union nor the United States have ful thinking spread widely by the Western speaks positively about one’s own coun- the ability or determination to establish press. To my knowledge, the ceasefire on try, about its size, its rich heritage and its peace in the area. This agreement shows the front line is observed. The only excep- Eurasian appearance. What do the young that only when Europe speaks with Eu- tion is Debaltseve representing a special Frenchmen hear all the time? That they rope a true peace is possible. This cor- problem since it arose only shortly before have to be ashamed of France, that the responds to a Europe of nation states. the Minsk Agreement. But even there, French are racists and that patriotism is Third, this agreement paves the way to the heavy weapons are withdrawn now. a flaw. There is more freedom of speech maintain the only possible solution, the The control processes are established and in Russia than in our country. As Philippe territorial integrity of Ukraine. It takes the state leaders talk to each other. If the Muray has predicted, we are caught in a the consent of Kiev to grant a special sta- media claim that Russian trucks carry- cage of “phobias” – islamophobia, xeno- tus to the East of the country with the ing humanitarian aid have loaded ammu- phobia, europhobia and homophobia. No right to the Russian mother tongue. Final- nition and cross the Ukrainian border, I one dares to move anymore! There is a ly, contrary to the one of September, the certainly ask myself: Why is no evidence spin-dry, sterilized, soft-boiled political current agreement contains a time frame presented to us, in the age of satellites that class, that praises the division of labor be- for the individual implementation phases. see everything, in the age of iPhones film- tween the secularists that create the spir- ing everything? Where are the pictures? itual void and the Islamists who fill this For once, you agree with an initiative void. taken by François Hollande? The concept of leisure parks “Puy du Yes, because Europe must no longer rely Fou” with historical themes will also be Doesn’t this also prevent the Russians on American standards for its future. taken on in Russia. Is your full support from being confronted with strong ethnic François Hollande has acted as a head of of Vladimir Putin to be seen in this con- and cultural tensions? state, regardless of the American state- text as well? The difference for integration “French ments. He has opposed Ukraine’s acces- Quite the contrary. After I became fa- Style” is obvious. With 140 million in- sion to NATO as was required by the US. miliar with Russia through the imple- habitants there are 20 million Muslims From now on France has to be encour- mentation of the Franco-Russian pro- in Russia. Vladimir Putin applies the old aged to expand this first positive eman- ject, I discovered two things. First, Russia principle of caution. “In Rome you live is profoundly European. Its entire cul- as Romans, in Russia as Russians.” In ture, its elites and the people as a whole France, there are those who want to make * Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949 in are focused on Europe. Solzhenitsyn had believe that secularism and the “faith in Boulogne (Vendée), is a French politician and writer. He is the founder of the sovereigntist party warned me “not to make the mistake of human right” are sufficient to solve the “Mouvement pour la France” (MPF) and founder turning the back on Russia. It’s about our problem. They are nothing else but ma- of the leisure park “Puy du Fou” (Vendée) with future.” nipulators or cowards. There is only one theatre plays on the history of France. From 1988 Furthermore, I discovered that Putin is type of integration in our country. It is to 2010 he was president of the General Coun- a true statesman. I also understood why he cil [Conseil général] of the department Vendée. Frenchifying! From 1987 to 1994 and from 1997 to 2004 he is constantly criticized by the globalized was a member of the French National Assem- elites in the West. The US want to make If the negotiations between the European bly. From 1994 to 1997 and from 2004 to 2014 Europe the fifty-first star on the American Union and Greece stagnate, can Tsipras he was a member of the EU Parliament. In 1995 flag. For this, they have to get the Europe- turn to Russia? and 2007 he was a candidate in the French presi- dential elections. His latest book “Le Roman de ans to further subject themselves to total Jeanne d‘Arc” was published by Albin Michel in NATO control. Vladimir Putin is the per- November 2014. fect excuse for the perfect devil. Let us continued on page 12 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 12

Agricultural corporations appropriate the fertile farmlands of Ukraine km. Niema Movassat, a member of the firmed in its reply “the immense extent the agricultural sector. In the future, genet- German left parliamentary party ad- of land grabbing”. Half of the agricul- ically modified seeds can be grown in the dressed the public with an article about tural area in the Ukraine is already man- Ukraine. The country, says the MP, counts the access of international agricultural aged by large companies. The largest among the most promising growth markets companies to the fertile farmland of the of these, the agricultural holding Ukr- for the seed producers Monsanto and Du- Ukraine (www.links-fraktion.de of 18 LandFarming, owns about 670,000 hec- Pont. The loans amounting to EUR 20.5 February 2015), after his question had tares. In contrast, large-scale farming in billion granted by the IMF and the World been answered by the Federal Govern- Germany would manage a maximum of Bank in May 2014 did not only make “re- ment (“Deutscher Bundestag, Drucksache 12,000 hectares. forms” such as the raising of the retirement 18/3925”, 18th election period, 4.2.2015). The ten largest Ukrainian agricultural age and lowering the gas prices a condi- He writes that in the wake of the war in companies control approximately 2.8 mil- tion. The MP believes that one of the con- the East of the country and largely unno- lion hectares of land; some oligarchs have ditions was the sale of farmland to listed ticed by the general public there is “a mas- many hundred thousand hectares each. companies. sive sellout of Ukrainian agricultural land These areas are cultivated mainly for the The German Government and the to quoted national and international agri- export of agricultural products; they re- EU support the sellout of the Ukrainian cultural corporations”. Although a sales quire a lot of technology and capital and country with millions of funds. So, the moratorium for land in the Ukraine ap- are closely linked to equity as well as Eu- loans of the European Bank for Recon- plicable up to the year 2012 has been ex- ropean pension funds. struction (EBRD) to Ukrainian and inter- tended until January 2016, the construct Earlier, the Ukraine was considered national agricultural corporations have of leasing Ukrainian land for periods up the “granary” of the Soviet Union, be- grown vigorously. As in 2013, 45 million to 50 years is very attractive among in- cause it has abundant black earth soils euros have been paid to Ukrainian com- vestors. and the acreage of 32 million hectares is panies, in 2014 with 131 million euros The consequences for small farm- about twice as large as in Germany. The this amount has already tripled. With for- ers in the country are devastating: “They Ukraine today is world’s third-largest eign companies, the total sum rose from lose their land and are at best employed corn and fifth-largest wheat exporter and 122 to 186 million euros in the same pe- as cheap labourers by agricultural compa- also produces large amounts of rapeseed riod. nies. Poverty and land concentration in the which are exported to Western Europe for In the Ukraine, German companies hands of a few are the result.” the production of gasoline. are also active. Among others the agro- Together with a number of group The sellout of the agricultural area is ac- dealer Toepfer International (today ADM members, the MP had tried to get more companied by a massive privatization pol- Germany) who were granted a loan over detailed information about the land icy. The treaty of association with the EU $50 million from the EBRD in 2012 “for transfer. The Federal Government con- foresees privatization and deregulation in the purchase of grain and oilseed”. For 2015 approximately 1.2 million euros are scheduled for agricultural projects car- ried out by the German Ministry of Ag- riculture in the context of the Bilateral ”’Putin is the perfect devil for …‘” The free trade agreement concocted by Cooperation Programme in the Ukraine. continued from page 12 the Eurocrats and the globalized elites to A Twinning Project of the EU with the transform Europe into a secondary mar- Ukrainian Government financed land For the European oligarchy, Alexis ket of USA, destroys our future and con- evaluation, soil management, survey- Tsipras is committing a mortal sin. Soon, tradicts any common sense. What I ac- ing and the creation of a ground cadaster he will be sacrificed on the Parthenon, cuse this “Europe” of is that it becomes an with 1.8 million euros. Since 2008, the because he does not prostrate before the American Europe, a mere economic and German Agriculture Ministry has also fi- euro and admits his predisposition to- cultural adjunct of the United States. In nanced the “German Agricultural Cent- wards Russia. He even finds positive order to predict the future, one might say, er in the Ukraine” (DAZ) which offers things to say about the “devil”. But the “The European Union is dead, long live training courses for farmers. German worshipers of Brussels and Frankfurt Europe”! The real, the great Europe, from agricultural companies, including also have still not understood that the euro the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Europe that Toepfer/ADM and the seed manufactur- will bring no salvation to the European rediscovers the true cradle of its tradition- er KWS are among others the founding economies. Greece will leave the euro, al cultural alliances. The Europe of the members of the DAZ organization. So far negotiations may only postpone the due Queen Anne of Kiev, the Russian queen 2.5 million euros have been spent. Bayer date. This entire European construction who married a French king. The Europe and BASF play a big role in these train- is nothing but a deadly deconstruction. that rediscovers the good old ideas which ings as well. Today’s European Union is a crazy, mi- govern the world since the triptych “sov- Considering the overall development, raculous attempt to resolve the states and ereignty, borders, identities” was invented it is only little credible that the Feder- borders and to abandon the people with from the experience of mankind. • al Government writes: “The responsibil- their valuable work to surrender them- ity for managing agricultural structures selves to the masters of globalization so is within the sovereignty of Ukraine. […] that the latter can continue to scoop up Source: Le Figaro of 23.2.2015, The Federal Ministry of Food and Agri- © Alexander Devecchio huge profits. culture (BMEL) places special emphasis on the promotion of small and medium- What could the future of Europe look sized enterprises in the bilateral cooper- like? (Translation Current Concerns) ation. […]” • No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 13

“For me it is important that every child can develop” A visit to the Astrid Lindgren special school in Weisswasser Interview with the headmistress Christiane Burges

This first of all: At the Weisswasser Astrid Lindgren special school an impressive work is being done. Here pupils with learning difficulties with a focus on intel- lectual development are taught and cared for. These are mainly pupils who cannot adequately be supported in the schools of general education. School authority is the Görlitz administrative district office. In the following interview the headmis- tress Mrs Burges presents the work of her school in detail.

Christiane Burges, Headmistress: Our school was established on 1 August 1991. We were initially housed in two old man- sions in Luxembourg street, where, before the reunification, there had been the spe- cial school for mentally handicapped chil- dren. But it quickly became clear that it would be much too small in the future. I submitted an application to the adminis- (picture ma) tration asking to build or rebuild a school, and on 1 January 1994, we could move in this house here. Previously, the house with the ninth grade, but since there isn’t sandwich, how do I lay the table, how can had been used as kindergarten and nurs- any vocational school supplied for our stu- I get dressed or undressed, rather everyday ery but then it had become available. The dents, we offer it as well, internally. tasks. Usually we start our lessons in math- city handed it over to the district, since all At the lower level we have six pupils ematics, German and other subjects at the special schools, colleges and secondary per class on average, at the intermediate intermediate level, when students are ten to schools are overseen by the district; mid- level as well, and at the upper level and the twelve years old; of course this is very in- dle schools and the primary schools, how- work level there are eight to ten students. dividual. Everything we offer is tailored to ever, by the communes. At that time, we Of course, it also depends on the clien- the level of the individual child. In addition, would have had the opportunity to build a tele of students to be found in a class, and we offer a lot of handicrafts, that is working brand new house, but for me it was more there we have a very wide range, which with ceramics, wood and metal as well as important that we were situated as close- means that we have severely multiple- paper and textiles. The pupils also cook for ly as possible to the city center, so that we handicapped and disabled children with a themselves. Of course there are also sev- would be able to use everything in our en- focus on walking aids, whose parents wish eral levels, i.e., the kids make tea or a little vironment, and that our pupils could mas- that they are placed close to their home. dessert. The older ones already start with ter their ways to school independently, The “classic mentally-handicapped pupil” a salad or smaller dishes. And at the work whenever possible. The commuting area – now represents the lowest share of our level, they prepare meals regularly, so to is relatively large, comprising the former students. The latter refers to students with say. The intention is indeed that they learn County of Weisswasser and Niesky and a specific medical indication or to pupils to take care of themselves. We also give extending to Görlitz. Therefore, many pu- with an IQ score of less than 65. Ours them recipe books according to their level. pils get here with the optional school are rather students who do not fit into all transport, i.e., by taxi. other current schools, who might be able Is there also a discussion about integra- to cope with the school for children with tion and inclusion in Saxony? Current Concerns: How many pupils learning difficulties, but who have behav- I was going to come to that anyway. We have you got here? ioral problems or problems with concen- have our main house. In this main house It varies, but in the last ten years, there tration to such a degree that this is not pos- all tasks of subject teaching are covered. were always between 50 and 60. You sible. But there are also included three classes must imagine that the pupils are always In the schools for children with learning with severely multiple-handicapped pu- grouped in age levels. The lower level difficulties compared to the regular schools, pils. For these children, even physical, oc- correspondingly includes 1st to 3rd grade, performance requirements are curtailed by cupational and logo treatments are avail- the intermediate level 4th to 6th grade, the one to two years and at our school, these able on prescription basis. These children upper level 7th to 9th grade and the work are three to four years. In our school the are also housed in the main house, be- level 10th to 12th grade. Normally, we al- learning material is orientated towards eve- cause here we have the necessary facili- ways lead two classes at the lower level, rything that can help students to cope with ties, such as a therapeutic bath and more. two at the intermediate level, two at the life. When the pupils start school, they are Next we have a whole floor in the high upper level and two at the work level. six or seven years old, but regarding their school next door. All those who are phys- With the work level we fulfill the com- development often only two to three years ically fit and able to cope with the ways pulsory school attendance as well. Usu- old. There, we do not offer reading, writ- ally, compulsory education is completed ing and arithmetic, but: How do I make a continued on page 14 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 14

”‘For me it is important …‘” companied during transport, it needs help me, “I also once wanted my child to attend continued from page 13 with dressing and putting on its shoes and, a regular school, but I can see now that it and, and. Now look at the effort that you does not work and therefore I am glad that independently are grouped into classes would have to make, and here is a school this school exists.” there. Also an internal training flat is inte- that can accomplish all that. Actually, We also have an acute shortage of teach- grated there. This means that the students that’s crazy, right? Meanwhile, the issue ers in Saxony, each year we fight for are there all day and fulfill their work stage is settled. The parents exercised their right every teacher. It is like that: In GDR concept, i.e., compulsory vocational educa- of appeal and judicial use and won their times, many teachers were hired from the tion; they cook for themselves, go to their case in the instance of the Saxon Higher 1955 to 1960 cohorts in our region and individual internships from there and have Administrative Court of Law, so that the new schools were opened. At that time certain learning programs. For our very fit girl has been taught in a primary school 45,000 people lived in Weisswasser, now students we also have an outsourced train- since the end of November, with all of the we have 16,000 to 18,000. Meanwhile the ing apartment. above conditions. city has been dismantled and the teachers Since 1991/1992, we have also had a have been spread everywhere. But just as school project in cooperation with vari- Even though it is questionable, whether they all started together, they are all to- ous primary schools in the city of Weiss- the enormous effort required now is real- gether retiring now. There will be a se- wasser, which means: we join students in ly for the good of the child. The idea that vere cut. To make matters worse, many common classes, however, only in those special support is discriminating is not (teachers) who are currently trained in subjects that we consider to be appropri- correct. It is a matter of fact that there are Saxony move to the old federal states be- ate, these are mainly sports, crafts, music differences, even organically related disa- cause they can earn more money there and art education. The remaining subjects bilities, and one can only appreciate that and can become civil servants; they are are taught separately. Currently, the prin- these children are promoted at their level. leaving. I just do not understand, there ciple of inclusion is top of the agenda, but But this is a topic where we exercise re- are kids everywhere, even here in the here it is always regarded with some reser- straint in discussions with parents more Lausitz. vation, and in Saxony the attitude is the fl- and more, because the parents say: There There is one thing I would also like to lowing: The requirements have to be met, is the position of disability rights, we mention: We have had a very good co- and if they are not fulfilled, inclusion can have the right to that and it is our wish. operation with the integration service for not be granted. Of course, we give recommendations, and three or four years, so that we were able the parents recognize that. The problem is to open up many individual internships I can remember: In a commemorative simply that they want something that they in companies for our students. Our aim publication in 1982, “150 Years of Zu- consider to be their right. They want that is to integrate them in the primary labor rich elementary school”, the special ed- their child is happy, and feel that they help market at least partially. Perhaps I’ll tell ucation of children with disabilities was if it goes to school close to home. But this you one example: We have been work- praised as a great achievement, as an ex- has often not been thought through. For ing in cooperation with the horse farm in pression of a human spirit and as a sign me it is important that each child can de- Rietschen for years, where children go of solidarity. One was proud that every velop. It will not be small and cute for- horseback riding, a therapeutic treatment. child received training and one began to ever, it must be integrated into society at There they also learn how to handle hors- defame this special support as discrimi- some point. When schooling is over, it es and to take care of them. One student nation. And today it is demanded that the must be decided whether the child goes who liked it very much, is now employed special schools should be abolished and to the sheltered workshop or to the open as an assistant. And in this process, ex- all children should be integrated into the labor market and where it is to live then. panding over many stages the integration regular school. Are you also affected by The school has the task of preparing the service does all the clarification and guid- that provision? children for this. This means that every ance. Another student desperately want- Just recently we have had parents who def- child is encouraged at its level, so that it ed to work in the nursing care. She even initely wanted that their daughter visited can cope with life subsequently. And this worked there and she enjoyed the work, an elementary school, close to her home is our basic approach. but she did not like the environment. She if possible. After the diagnosis, we carried Many German states just closed down had no contact person to talk to and no out, it was clearly a G-Child, that is to say, the special schools and put the children one to give her some acknowledgement. a child with a focus on mental develop- in other schools. So I am glad Saxony is And here the integration service took re- ment that should be taught strictly accord- watching and waiting at the moment. At ally great care and found another place ing to our curriculum. The problem is that the moment, the culture minister promised where she was integrated into the team this girl – even in a small primary school us that the special schools would continue immediately. Now there is a good chance class – would need a special offer that cor- to exist. I say at the moment, because you that she will be employed next year. Thus responds with our curriculum. She would never know ... There is the concept of sit- there are ways to integrate our pupils. In- need a special education teacher that the ting it out, waiting to see what happens. In deed, they have got good qualifications, school would have to provide for paral- some states, in which there is inclusion of they have a good attitude, they want to lel. Now imagine: The girl needs at least the children, they notice now that it does work, they come voluntarily, they are en- 15 lessons at its own level, while the oth- not work. Not even integration works out, dearing and open, theycome on time and ers have their English and maths lessons. much less inclusion. do not wander around. A primary school teacher can not accom- Reality is quite different from theory. plish that, she has to take care of the rest With the inclusion, children actually are One can feel that you are very commit- of the class. In addition to these subjects, supposed to be no longer encouraged, but ted to your pupils, and that is something there are also sports and other subjects, simply be accepted in their “otherness”. needed in the first place. Thank you very in which the girl could not take part. It Most of the parents do not want that. They much. • would take an integration companion, so are happy that their children can come to (The interview with the headmistress was led by again another person. The girl must be ac- us and they support us. One mother told Dieter Sprock.) No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 15

Meetings organised by the Genossenschaft Zeit-Fragen/ Current Concerns at the Leipzig book fair

pation, involvement and codetermination; Referendum about the Community Therefore, the cooperative is often pre- School in Rielasingen ferred to other forms of enterprise. In our Speakers: Dr med Angelika Spur (D) and modern times, the basic cooperative prin- Tankred Schaer (D) ciple can demonstrate new solution ap- Every citizen has the option of directly in- proaches, especially when it comes to the fluencing local politics in his municipality areas of the provision with basic supplies. by means of a public petition and a subse- Zeit-Fragen and Current Concerns are A stable supply of basic requirements for quent referendum. Citizens can thus effect again represented at the Leipzig Book the population – catering to local/regional a direct democratic correction of decisions Fair this year. The stand is situated in needs – is a prerequisite for the common made by the elected representatives. In Hall 4, booth A107. In addition, in the good. Within the framework of a cooper- Rie­lasingen citizens exercised their dem- context of the reading festival “Leipzig ative this can be set up and maintained in ocratic rights and conducted a referendum reads”, Zeit-Fragen/Current Concerns a very promising way. aiming at the preservation of their second- invite the visitors of the fair to several Thursday, 12 March 2015, ary schools. The Red-Green state govern- events and to three evening lectures fol- 1.30 – 2 pm, Sachbuchforum, hall 3, ment of Baden-Württemberg wanted to lowed by a discussion. stand E 211 abolish these established, good schools and introduce the controversial commu- The family as a school for life Who was Henry Dunant? Book nity schools state wide instead. The ini- presentation of “Who is Henry Speakers: Sonja van Biezen, Psycholo- tiators will report how they succeeded in Dunant?” a book for children and gist, Dr Elisabeth Nussbaumer (CH), Re- realising the referendum and what were young people, written by Lisette Bors inhard Koradi (CH) and lic. phil Moritz their experiences. Nestor (CH) Friday, 13 March 2015, Speaker: Urs Knoblauch (CH) The family – father, mother and siblings – 10.30-11 am, Sachbuchforum, It was the Swiss businessman Henry Du- naturally form the first protective commu- hall 3, stand E 211 nant, born in 1828 in Geneva, grown up in nity into which a child is born and without a humanist family, who witnessed a terri- which a child cannot become a person who Reading – a royal way ble war in Solferino, in the vicinity of Lake is independent as well as capable of form- Speaker: Dr Peter Küpfer (CH) Garda in Italy in 1859. In 1862 he wrote the ing and maintaining successful and satis- Reading fiction achieves something funda- world-shaking book “A Memory of Solf- factory relationships. A child experiences mental: By literary texts we experience the erino”. In this book, he already formulat- its parents as the “first people”, to whom it world through the eyes of another human ed the thoughts and tasks of the Red Cross, naturally relates and from whom it learns being. We experience what the hero or her- which was to become a globally active all the fundamental values necessary to the oine in our story experiences; we feel with movement. With the founding of the Red culture into which it is born. In this first her, with her fears, her threats but also with Cross in 1863 and the first Geneva Conven- “life partnership” the child learns through her pleasures and highlights of life. This tion 1864, international humanitarian law its experiences how and whether people participation on the life of the other person, evolved to become a mandatory standard. can live together peacefully and what val- this sharing his path, this sharing of the Geneva became headquarter of the Inter- ues, knowledge and modes of behaviour it life perspective of another from one’s own national Committee of the Red Cross. The will need for this. This learning process inner experience – no other medium is able Red Cross means the last hope of human- may take place more or less successfully. to perform, neither the comic strip nor the ity for countless people in need and in war In the family, the adolescent girl can iden- film, nor music. While reading we are our- zones. Lisette Bors’ book about Henry Du- tify with her mother and the boy as a soon- selves forming pictures of life, given to us nant has the great advantage that it contains to-be man can identify with his father. On by the text (text actually means texture), de- valuable contributions to the discussion of an emotional level, they already both ac- pending on our experiences and our imag- fundamental ethical values with children quire the armoury they will be able to draw ination. As long as we are reading mean- and adolescents, in schools and at home. on later in life as a grown woman or man. ingful texts, we are ourselves looking for Thursday, 12 March 2015, In the years spent in the family the child meaning in life. This is something funda- 10 – 10.30 am, Lesebude 1: hall 2, absorbs the practiced values that character- mental in a media world which is trying to stand E 307 ise the coexistence of people of its cultural substitute life’s meaning by superficial ad- environment. After 1945, the family under- ventures, thrill and the deceptive image of a How to set up a cooperative went a change in the FRG that was foreign world that is one continuous party or an ad- Speakers: Reinhard Koradi (CH) and Dr to the citizens of the GDR. This historical venture trip. Tankred Schaer (D) aspect will also be considered. Friday, 13 March 2015, 1 – 1.30 pm, The cooperative movement can look back Thursday, 12 March 2015, Literaturcafe, hall 4, stand B 600. on a successful history – auspicious also at 7.30 pm, Location: Die Brücke – for the future. From the history of cooper- Begegnungsstätte Leipzig, Decentralised structures as an atives we can draw very valuable conclu- Zollikofer Strasse 21, 04315 Leipzig, alternative to globalisation sions for the present. It is the tradition of am Volkmarsdorfer Markt Speakers: Matthias Anders (D) and the cooperative movement to address cur- At the same time an event on the same Dietmar Berger (D) rent socio- and economic political chal- subject will take place at the Wiederitzsch Pressed by the ongoing globalisation, lenges and to develop respectively im- Bibliothek, Zur Schule 10a, economic structures changed along with plement constructive problem-solving 04158 Leipzig (Nord) the economic policies and the employ- approaches. The cooperative principle is Speakers there: Klaudia Schaer (D), characterised by a high degree of partici- Josef Nyari (D) and Urs Knoblauch (CH) continued on page 16 No 6/7 10 March 2015 Current Concerns Page 16

“... and your own emergency supply?” Considerations in a politically unstable time rt. In November 2014, Toni Frisch con- to account for possible direct consequenc- ducted a safety exercise of the federal es for our lives.The warlike activities in a government, the cantons and cities on region with 15 Ukrainian and 12 Russian possible blackouts and flu epidemics “Si- nuclear power plants might escalate rapid- cherheitsverbund Übung 14”. The for- ly. Within hours an international confron- mer head of the humanitarian aid of the tation might be triggered possibly leading Federation will recommend the Federal to acute warfare. The potential impact of Council and the State Councillors that such a scenario can range from the effects every household should store up an emer- of pro-time supply shortages to a long- gency supply. Almost a year ago it was term nuclear pollution with all its danger- the head of the Swiss Army, André Blatt- ous long-term consequences. Many may mann, also called to mind the need for a remember the consequences of the Cher- domestic emergency stock in view of the nobyl nuclear disaster, some of which are current crisis situation in Ukraine. still tangible today. Also the economic and fiscal political The team led by Toni Frisch took an im- situation in the EU can quickly lead to un- portant first step and demanded an emer- stable conditions in individual states. Social gency supply for everyone. But the prob- explosives have been accumulated abun- lem of our electricity supply situation dantly in recent decades. Not only in the remains. Power supply is getting increas- southern countries developed a massive im- ingly internationalized and thus more sus- poverishment of wide strata of the popu- ceptible without while the aspect of the lation, even in the “winner countries” like tion about a short term 7 day emergency country’s secure supply is not sufficient- Germany a broad class of “working poor” supply “Kluger Rat – Notvorrat, BWL” ly considered. Many vital institutions have has formed whereas international banks are www.bwl.admin.ch or advice in case of a been changed in recent decades and con- served with billions of interest payments. possible power failure (www.bwl.admin. verted to electricity. Just think of ware- Are you well-provided for? Are your ch/ dienstleistungen). housing, health care, water pumps, gas relatives, your neighbours? Depending on In addition to the current instructions stations, transportation, etc. The novel the assumed scenario, the kind of possible of BWL, which have recently been up- “Blackout – Morgen ist es zu spät” by emergency supply might vary. It may help dated and are also available per “social” Marc Elsberg (ISBN 978-3-442-38029-9 you during difficult times. At the “Bundes- media (see box), it is strongly recom- 2012) conceives of a possible scenario. amt für wirtschaftliche Landesversorgung, mended to refer to older information ma- The global political escalation, which BWL”, (Federal Office for National Eco- terial. It involves a larger stock and also we observe in Ukraine, urges us as well nomic Supply) you can get some informa- includes suggestions how to manage the emergency stock. We recommend, for example, the list of goods from the bro- Alertswiss is launched – help for individual emergency plans chure “Haus­haltvorrat – Damit der Fall cc. In early February 2015, the Federal te is an individual emergency plan that der Fälle nicht zur Falle wird” (House- Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) laun- every household can create for themsel- hold reserves – For the worst-case sce- ched the system Alertswiss in collabora- ves. In it e.g. family meeting points can nario) by BWL from 1997, which is con- tion with various partner organizations. be set, important information can be ceived for a fortnight. In this brochure Now everyone who is interested finds in- deposited or a list with emergency sup- vou will find advice for a sensible man- formation on a website (alertswiss.ch), plies can be stored. In an emergency, it agement of the stock, too. a smartphone app, Twitter (@alertswiss) is essential that the relevant authorities We can only hope that the various con- and YouTube information about the and the population concerned will act as flicts will end peacefully and that some precaution and the behaviour in disa- quickly and as correctly as possible, said political decision-making circles might sters and emergencies in Switzerland. In Benno Bühlmann, Director of the Fede- come to their senses. The situation calls the centre of the newly launched websi- ral Office. upon us to make sufficient provisions. •

”Meetings organised by …” of lacking competitiveness, etc. are the sequences if one replaced the principle continued from page 15 order of the day. “Efficiency through size” by the princi- This clear-cutting is propagated and ac- ple “Quality of life through decentralised ment situation. The process of concen- cepted as irrefutable as well as the fol- structures”? tration at the economic level leads to lowing loss of life quality, security of In the context of this event we will answer migration out of the less densely-popu- provision and jobs and is legitimated by questions dealing with the basic supply of lated regions and leaves its traces also in the costs that might be saved. The social- the rural regions and how the still existing the deficient provision of the region with political and social consequences of cen- structures might be used and promoted in public goods. The school, the post-office, tralisation and concentration are reck- a better way, in order to meet the tasks of the doctor disappear from the village, lessly ignored. However, we may ask securing livelihoods. because everything is oriented towards the question: Is this economic doctrine Friday, 13 March 2015, at 7 pm, the law of “increase in sales and earn- of low costs at all sustainable and viable lawyers Vieweger, Hartmann and part- ings by augmenting quantities”. Merg- for the future from the perspective of na- ners, Chopinstrasse 9, 04103 Leipzig ing schools, closing businesses because tional economy? What would be the con- (center)