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Merkel talks about Putin, the war and its responsibility: I do not blame myself for anything

2022-06-08 18:11:24Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA SABINE KINKARTZ
Merkel talks about Putin, the war and its responsibility: I do not blame myself
Angela Merkel

Could the Russian invasion of Ukraine have been prevented? Angela Merkel says she often thinks about this issue, but sees no mistakes in her policy.

Holidays at her home in Brandenburg, holidays in Italy, five weeks of "airing" on the Baltic Sea. In the last six months, Angela Merkel has done exactly what she promised her successor Scholz before handing over the chancellery - she took a break and declined no invitation. "Then let's see where I'm going," she said in 2021.

Ish-kancelarja tani u rishfaq. Në sallën madhështore të teatrit neo-barok të Ansamblit të Berlinit me shumë ar dhe kadife të kuqe, para rreth 700 spektatorëve dhe shumë përfaqësuesve të medias, ajo u përgjigj pyetjeve të autorit dhe gazetarin Alexander Osang.

Lufta në Ukrainë

Në ftesë thuhej se Merkel do të pozicionohet ndaj "çështjeve më sfiduese të kohës sonë". Çfarë mund të jetë më sfiduese këto ditë sesa lufta dhe agresioni rus në Ukrainë, si dhe pasojat e saj? Dhe çfarë mund të jetë më emocionuese në një bisedë me Angela Merkelin sesa pyetja nëse sheh gabime në politikën e saj si kancelare?

She is very concerned about the situation in Ukraine. Even after her term, she feels like a political person and is therefore very concerned. "Of course I had imagined the time after my term differently. February 24 was just a turning point." Russia's aggressive war is a "brutal attack that violates international law, for which there is no justification."

Reviewing her 16-year rule, the former chancellor wondered "what could have gone wrong". "Could he have done more to prevent such a tragedy - I already consider this situation a great tragedy?"

Merkel talks about Putin, the war and its responsibility: I do not blame myself

More austerity towards Putin?

Merkel acknowledged that in 2014, following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin could have been treated more harshly. But it can not be said that nothing was done at the time, she stressed, referring to Russia's exclusion from the G8 group of major industrialized countries. At the time, NATO also decided that each country should spend two percent of its gross domestic product on defense.

Merkel also defended the decision to oppose NATO eastward expansion in 2008, including to Ukraine and Georgia. "At that time, Ukraine was a country ruled by oligarchs and could not simply be admitted to NATO." Moreover, it was clear at the time that Putin would not have accepted these countries' membership in NATO and that he could "cause great damage to Ukraine."

Changes

Merkel said she often thinks about the past. But she does not blame herself for anything. "It cannot be said that diplomacy is wrong if it does not work. I do not think I should say now: I was wrong and I should apologize for that." Merkel says "fortunately she tried hard", but "unfortunately it did not work".

During Merkel's time, the belief prevailed that Europe would be better off with Russia as a partner than in a confrontation with the Kremlin. She and her SPD partners in the coalition were of the opinion that investment should be made in economic integration, combined with political and cultural exchange. In addition, gas, oil and coal from Russia were relatively cheap, which was an advantage for the German economy.

Merkel talks about Putin, the war and its responsibility: I do not blame myself

The issue of dogs

Has the chancellor personally underestimated Russian President Vladimir Putin? His desire for power, his potential for aggression? Shouldn't he have been warned when Putin provocatively took his big dog to a meeting in Sochi in 2007, even though he knew Merkel was afraid of dogs?

During a visit to Sochi, Putin told her that the collapse of the Soviet Union was for him the worst thing of the 20th century. "I said, you know, for me it was the luckiest circumstance of my life, because it allowed me to be free and so I could do what I like and want." At that moment it was clear "that there is a distance to great distance between us and that this distance has continued to grow. "The former chancellor judged that the Cold War with Russia was never over.

Coexistence with Russia?

She says she has never been naive. "Putin's hatred, you could say Putin's hostility - is directed against the Western democratic model." She said she always warned: "You know he wants to destroy Europe. He wants to destroy the European Union because he sees it as a forerunner of NATO."

Merkel said over the years they have failed to create a security architecture that could prevent war. It is in Germany's interest to find a "modus vivendi" with Russia - so that the two countries can coexist.

Satisfied with life

One thing is very clear to Merkel: military intimidation is the only language Putin understands. That is why she is happy that the Bundeswehr will now be better equipped. "Now I am very happy that we are finally deciding, at a time when the whole world has armed drones, that we will also buy some." Taking a critical look at the SPD, with which Merkel's CDU has ruled for a long time, Merkel said it was not her fault that "some things could not happen". "It has been a very difficult war to invest in military prevention."

The conversation lasted about an hour and a half and was not just for Russia. Angela Merkel seemed relaxed and at peace with herself. Not running again in the 2021 election was the right decision. "I have been involved in politics for 30 years and I have always had terms and terms, in fact I have been very, very happy that during this part of my life I have achieved so many things. And now I can be happy with the rest of my life. "/ DW

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