Germany Has A New Friend!

So - what have the Americans, what has this dude Bush done lately for Germany, other than laser bombing our esteemed customer Saddam, threatening our preferred trading partner Iran or criticizing the sale of this completely harmless plutonium plant to China? Also, their political vocabulary leaves much to be desired - completely lacking diplomatic nuancès and sophistication!

It's not like we would need these American war-mongers any more: Germany has a new friend!

Vietnam, Germany pledge for comprehensive, durable partnership

Vietnam and Germany ... pledged to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level over this century. Vietnam's Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed the determination during talks in Berlin after Manh arrived in the German capital for a four-day official visit.

Manh received a red carpet welcome as he arrived at Schroeder's office with the chancellor hailing the Vietnamese leader's visit as a contribution to opening up a new period of development in bilateral ties.

Now here's a guy Schroeder can get along with - the elected leader of an internationally recognized democracy. This picture clearly proves: there is a bond of sympathy beetween the two leaders...

The German chancellor said he greatly admired Vietnam's renewal policy and its great achievements in the past few years.

Vietnam has been recognised world-wide for maintaining high economic growth over several years while striving for social equality and poverty reduction, he said. ...

Seems though, Vietnam's policies come at a cost... "Amnesty International believes that individuals deprived of their liberty in Viet Nam are not guaranteed humane treatment. The organization has documented dozens of cases of prisoners whose treatment amounted to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." (On a positive note: the Vietnamese gulags have just acquired new user-friendly gallows for their customers.)

Manh said he was happy to visit Germany, one of the most industrialised countries and a leader among Vietnam's major partners. ...

He said he appreciated the role played by Germany in Europe and the world, with its foreign policy based on respect for international law, dialogue, crisis prevention, non violence and building of trust. ...

Oh, I'm sure Manh has ample reason for a heartfelt thank to Schroeder for this policies of crisis prevention, non violence and building of trust. After all, Saddam could still be in power had German diplomacy won out... And, of course, no word of Schroeder on human rights violations in Vietnam. You simply don't criticize a friend in public, unless it's the US.

Earlier Manh met with Vice President of the Bundestag, Susanne Kastner, and the two leaders reviewed past co-operation between Vietnam's National Assembly and the German house.

They agreed that more should be done to consolidate and expand ties between the two legislatures for the benefit of both the peoples, and for peace, stability and co-operation in the region and world.

Vietnam's National Assembly - a "legislature"? Hmm... we have an interesting opinion on democracy and the role of the "legislature" in Vietnam here:

Vietnam is a one-party state, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). ... The National Assembly members were chosen in May 2002 elections in which candidates were vetted by the CPV's Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), an umbrella group for the country's mass organizations. Approximately 90 percent of elected delegates were CPV members. ... The Constitution does not provide the right for citizens peacefully to change their government, and citizens could not freely choose and change the laws and officials that govern them. CPV control over the selection of candidates in elections for the National Assembly, the presidency, the prime ministership, and local government undermines this right. All authority and political power is vested in the CPV, and the Constitution delineates the leadership of the CPV. Political opposition movements and other political parties are illegal.

Next week: North Korea, Germany pledge for comprehensive, durable partnership!

Addendum: From Germany, Vietnam's Manh went on to visit yet another friend: Fidel Castro!

Party chief asserts Viet Nam-Cuba relationship will be ever-green ... like all other Vietnamese, we feel Cuba and President Fidel Castro are dear and near at heart. ... I keep beautiful memories and deep impressions of Castro during his recent visits to Viet Nam. I admire his staunch revolutionary resolve, his consistency with socialist ideals and his pure internationalism. (At the time of this posting, the press release of Manh's trip to Cuba is accompanied by a picture of Manh and ... German President Johannes Rau. One more friend...)

(Translation check by Ray D.)

Comments

[Jens Schmidt]

Don't forget another friend, who's leading in the spreading of freedom and democracy: China

http://de.news.yahoo.com/040305/286/3wzve.html

[M Morris]

Hi,

I think all of these interesting flirtations, embarked upon by Germany, France and a few other of the EUs most vociferous proponents; are a clear sign that there is a force in Europe doing its utmost to undermine US strategic interests around the world. Ilka Schroeder MEP, as you have covered on this site, clearly believes that the EU is now invooved in actively engaaging the US in proxy wars.

These are dangerous times for those of us that value the Transatlantic alliance, whether right or left.

BTW: great site.

Regards,

[Xixi]

Schroeder appears to actually be taller than Manh. [The photo didn't show feet so there's no certainty that Schroeder's not standing on a box.] That might explain why Schroeder would like to be photographed with Manh.