By Tagesspiegel
German society is discussing the positions of prominent figures who stand for continuation of a constructive dialogue with Russia. It became strained against the background of Angela Merkel’s speech at the G20 summit, after which a fault line in the German government concerning the Russian issue became even clearer. The social democrat Egon Bahr, who used to be one of the key members of the political team of the late chancellor Willy Brandt and laid the foundation of his eastern policy, stands for the continuation of dialogue with Russia. This is a translation of Egon Bahr’s interview to Tagesspiegel. The former politician was heavily criticized by journalists who don’t feel sympathy towards Moscow for participating in “a pro-Russian conference.”
- Herr Bahr, you have participated in “a peaceful conference” of the right-wing populist magazine Compact and found yourself in fractious company. Why did you do this?
- I wanted to get acquainted with Mr. Yakunin. I know he is close with Vladimir Putin.
- Did you talk to him?
- Yes, of course I did.
- Did you learn something new?
- I was impressed that Mr. Yakunin focused on analysis of the cultural proximity of Russia and Germany in the last 100 years in his report. After that we had a short talk. He gave me his phone number and invited me for a meeting next spring.
- Vladimir Yakunin is the President of Russian Railways and a person who is close to the Russian President. At the same time, he speaks disdainfully about opposition activists and gays…
- I understand clearly that Russia is not a democracy which would suit US ideas. It has never been such a democracy. George H. W. Bush, the wise former president of the USA, once said after the end of the conflict between the East and the West that Russia should develop according to its own traditions. Democracy is not one of these traditions. I think the children and grandchildren of Putin won’t be democrats in our interpretation of the word, but probably they will be democrats à la Russe.
- Don’t you think it is a problem that you have participated in a conference which was organized by controversial people, to say the least?
- I don’t think I need to prove to anybody that I am a social democrat. I wanted to meet Mr. Yakunin, and it correlates with the general course of Frau Merkel and Herr Steinmeier: dialogue with Moscow shouldn’t be broken off.
- You also made a speech at the conference…
- Yes, I made a short speech, as I was indignant at an unprofessional speech by Mr. Shahtsheider. He said that Germany is still not an independent country, which is nonsense, and I argued with it.
