Interview with Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle
SenGermany: Mr. Westerwelle, the US President just paid a visit to Germany and will visit Senegal from 26 to 28 June. His two predecessors, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, had before him likewise visited Senegal. Hence, Senegal is the only West African country which was visited by all three latest US Presidents. What does this trust of the United States in Senegal tell you?
Westerwelle: Senegal has developed a very good international reputation, not only in the USA. This high prestige is the result of the active commitment of the Senegalese Government towards regional stability and security, and also results from the exemplary democratic development of this country. Senegal is among those countries where features like the positive development and potential of the African continent become particularly clear. In the light of these circumstances Germany is also very interested in further expanding the partner relationship with Senegal.
SenGermany: In the last twelve months alone, the French President François Hollande started his first trip to Africa in Senegal, and Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, even met with representatives of the Senegalese civil society on 28 July 2012; Hillary Clinton spoke before the Senegalese Parliament on 1 August 2012; Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister, also travelled to Senegal shortly before your visit on 11 October 2012. You likewise visited Senegal in late October 2012 and praised the country's democracy. But you can't eat democracy, since more than 200.000 unemployed young people applied for a job when the Senegalese Government offered 5000 vacancies in the public sector this year. Do you not think that time has come where to promote the private industry in Senegal?
Westerwelle: There is a coherence between democratic development and free business development in the private sector. The rule of law and legal certainty are important prerequisites for investments made into a country. What is decisive for people in Senegal is how their personal economic situation will change. Jobs will not only come into existence in the public sector, but must also be created by stimulating the private industry. The Senegalese Government has identified the right priorities by setting its focus on economic growth and an improved investment climate.
SenGermany: SenGermany, the Association of Senegalese Engineers and Economists in Germany, is trying to introduce the dual training system in Senegal with the support of the North Rhine-Westphalian Government. You promoted this system in Tunisia. Would you do the same thing for Senegal?
Westerwelle: The German dual vocational training system arouses great interest throughout the world. By transferring knowledge not only in vocational schools, but also within the work process, a practice-based training is guaranteed. Germany will be happy to share its experience in the field of vocational training with Senegal. The envisaged cooperation with the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia would be a good start for that purpose.
SenGermany: On 8 November 2013 the first German-Senegalese Economic Summit will be held in collaboration with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Düsseldorf. How can the Federal Government support the first steps taken by the German private sector in Senegal?
Westerwelle: From the Federal Government's point of view the development of external trade has a high priority. Events like the planned Economic Summit are utmost important. I hope that the summit will evoke the interest it deserves among German and Senegalese enterprises, and will lead to concrete collaboration projects. Especially the German small and medium-sized enterprises are often very interested and frequently offer their foreign partners excellent products, which have been adjusted to the respective local circumstances.
SenGermany: In September 2009 the Senegalese Government signed in Washington a financing project with a value of 540 million US-Dollars via the MCA (Millennium Challenge Account) for a period of five years. The US President Barack Obama will most presumably prolong the American support for the expansion of infrastructures in Senegal on 26 June. Which are the areas where Germany currently offers help to Senegal?
Westerwelle: On the occasion of the intergovernmental negotiations conducted in November 2012 between Senegal and Germany, the Federal Government pledged financial support for Senegal in the amount of 57 million Euros for the years 2012 through 2014. As from the year 2015 the collaboration between these two countries will concentrate on "renewable energies and energy efficiency". In Casamance we helped to supply more than 60 villages with electricity. Moreover the Federal Republic of Germany will up to the year 2015 remain strongly committed in the sectors of decentralization and sustainable promotion of economic development.
Furthermore four German political foundations are represented in Senegal, where they work with the civil society, with stakeholders from business, journalists and the Government. Beyond this long-term collaboration, the Federal Government has time and again offered short-term support for initiatives taken by the Government and the civil society, so as to bring about improvements in particular areas of life.
SenGermany: The last G8-Summit came to an end in Northern Ireland on 18 June. On that occasion you took on the challenge to fight against tax evasion and money laundering. The new Senegalese Government attempts to do the same thing, and for this purpose asks for the help of the international community. How can Germany help in that respect?
Westerwelle: We are very attentively following the Government's action against corruption. To this end, it is important to proceed in accordance with the legal rules and regulations. The Federal Government has for many years promoted the African Peer Review Mechanism, amongst others by means of support offered to the Secretariat of this Institution. President Macky Sall announced last year that Senegal is within this framework willing to again undergo a review. This is something which we greatly welcome.
SenGermany: Senegal's State President Macky Sall is one of the four African Presidents who were received by the US President Barack Obama on 28 March 2013. Shortly before this, Macky Sall had made a speech at Harvard University on 8 March. Is it correct that you invited the Senegalese President for a state visit to Germany?
Westerwelle: We would be very glad to welcome President Sall in Germany for talks and meetings. A concrete date has yet to be established.
Mr. Minister, thank you for the interview.
Ibrahim Guèye
SenGermany