Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Lecture

RAJIV GANDHI STOOD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Gerhard Schroeder

7^th Memorial Lecture by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at RGF 'Peace and Stability in a Globalised World' in New Delhi on 7 October, 04

Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi with German Chancellor, Shri Gerhard Schroeder at Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi on 7 October.

Madam chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I deem it a great honour to be the guest today of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. The theme I have chosen to speak about is one that deeply concerned Rajiv Gandhi throughout his political career. I do so with profound respect for all that he accomplished. The maintenance of peace and security and the achievement of social justice: those were the goals that shaped Rajiv Gandhi's thinking and inspired his life's work.

The world in these early years of the 21^st century is changing with dramatic and dizzying speed, a phenomenon the term "globalisation" can only inadequately describe.

Any one-sided criticism of globalisation overlooks the tremendous opportunities it offers for growth and development in all parts of the world - prospects opened up by the integration of national economies into the global economy, by free trade and the free movement of capital. We must act together to seize the opportunities that now beckon, opportunities to enhance cooperation and communication, to create new products and jobs and also to improve our quality of life.

Globalisation made to human measure: that is the goal for which we must strive together.

A globalised economy allows also poorer countries to have access to new technologies and the vast store of human knowledge.

Nevertheless, globalization has its downside, that we must recognize as well. Despite the progress of recent years, the gap between the haves and the have-nots is still far from closing. Hunger, injustice and oppression are still with us. Still far from too many young people are denied access to education and hence the chance of a better life.

And above all, ladies and gentlemen: the world at the beginning of the 21^st century has not become any safer. We have certainly seen a drastic reduction in the number of inter-state wars. But international terrorism, internal conflicts, failing states and the proliferation of weapons of mass-destruction threaten the security of us all.

The fight against international terrorism is one of the most formidable challenges now facing the international community. In the world we live in, security is indivisible.

No matter where it takes place, terror is a denial of the most basic tenets of any civilization. As peace-loving democracies committed to social justice, we therefore see combating terrorism with the utmost vigour also as a matter of self-respect. But we must act with equal determination to tackle the root causes of violence and terrorism. To deny fanaticism and terrorism the soil in which they can flourish, we must also create an inclusive society offering material and also cultural security.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses a special and increasingly alarming threat to peace and stability. The danger that terrorist groups may get hold of such weapons has by no means diminished. Germany and all members of the European Union firmly believe the existing multilateral arms control and non-proliferation instruments need to be strengthened.

For such an approach there can be only one venue: the United Nations as the guarantor of a universal order founded on law and human dignity. We therefore strongly support the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to reform the world organisation.

The real crux is this: a reformed Security Council has to reflect the realities of today's world. The future composition of the Security Council must take into account the growing importance of prominent players in Asia, Africa and Latin America. But it should also give due consideration to those industrialized countries that make major contributions to the maintenance of world peace and international security. Both India - the world's largest democracy and founding member of the United Nations - and Germany are able and willing to assume greater responsibility in the UN Security Council.

Strengthening multilateralism requires more than a reform of the Security Council. One of the most important foundations of our multilateral system is international law. That a general ban on the use of force was written into the United Nations Charter was a milestone in the evolution of multilateralism. That is why Germany is working actively to develop and refine existing international law and ensure it is more widely respected and applied. The establishment of the International Criminal Court is an important step.

It is equally important, however, that effective action is taken to enable newly industrialized and developing countries to participate more fully in the work of key international economic and financial institutions. They should have a role not only in formulating opinions but also in decision-making.

We have a common goal: to enable people everywhere to benefit from the opportunities globalization holds out. We must prevent the world being divided into globalisation winners and globalisation losers. Since free trade demonstrably means a greater chance of prosperity, the poorer countries in particular must have access to national markets. They must not be kept out by penal tariffs or other protectionist restrictions. That is why Germany is pressing for better market access for the products of developing countries and a reduction in trade-distorting subsidies.

It is my firm conviction that developing intensive cooperation between the individual countries of a region as well as strong and effective regional organisations can make an important contribution to building peace and stability. That has definitely been our experience in Europe. European integration, the single market and the single currency have enabled us to overcome the narrow nationalisms of former days. This new Europe is our nations' response to the wars and devastation of the past. And Europe is our answer to the challenges of globalization.

The European Union is ready to assume greater international responsibility, commensurate with its size, economic clout and standing in the world. For that it needs partners, however. That is why the European Commission recently presented to India proposals on ways and means to develop and intensify their partnership. I am delighted, Mrs. Gandhi, that your country's Government has responded to these proposals positively.

When it comes to integration of South Asia, India as the world's largest democracy with an impressive record of economic growth clearly has a key role to play. The process of rapprochement on which India and Pakistan are now embarked is of crucial importance for the entire region and beyond. In my talks today I encouraged India's leaders to continue along the path of confidence-building and dialogue. My message will be the same when I meet Pakistan's leaders in a few days' time. No one can have any interest in a regional arms race in South Asia. Peace between nations - as we know from our own experience in Europe - is above all a question of mutual trust.

An integral part of any broadly based, cooperative strategy for peace must be to foster understanding between different cultures and civilizations. The important thing is to highlight what our civilizations have in common and build on what unites us: the desire for peace, justice and tolerance.

Countries that enable different interests to be fairly reconciled within their own societies, that ensure all citizens can make their voices heard, that have vibrant democracies and strong civil societies will also seek to resolve their differences with other countries by peaceful means.

That was clearly in Rajiv Gandhi's mind when, in the eighties, he consciously sought a dialogue with Indian NGOs, a dialogue he consistently expanded in subsequent years. Today, I am very pleased to be able to inform you that the federal Government intends to support the work of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation by providing funding as well as through joint projects notably in the field of education.

What has inspired the Indo-German partnership is a joint commitment to work hand in hand to meet the immense challenges facing today's world. We will do so in the interest of our citizens and conscious of our responsibility for peace and stability in the world. I am convinced our efforts will be crowned with success.