Executive summary, by the translator: Heiko Maas, from the SPD (Social Democratic Party, Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands) has been named foreign minister of Germany’s new Grand Coalition Government. This signals no change, or one for the worse. His initial remarks seem reminiscent of a Kiev script, and ignore who is, and who isn’t, fulfilling the Minsk terms. Here is the report from Ostexperte.de:
The newly appointed Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, like his predecessors, wants to work for a solution to the Ukraine crisis. “Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its ongoing aggression against Ukraine cannot be accepted,” he said.
Germany would insist on the fulfillment of the Minsk ceasefire agreement. “It is true: Russia is and remains Europe’s greatest neighbor. We need constructive channels of dialogue, on as many levels as possible and with due seriousness on both sides,” said the new Foreign Minister.
“But if Russia defines itself more and more in isolation, even in opposition to us in the West, we may have regrets. In any case, it is changing the reality of our foreign policy.”
During his inaugural visit to Paris, Maas emphasized: “The conflict in Donbass will remain one of the major foreign policy priorities for both of us.” Support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine remains immovable.
In other Grand Coalition news, Peter Altmaier (CDU) was appointed as the new Federal Minister of Economics.
