German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier held an online conference on Facebook on March 18. During the conference he answered some questions from users mainly regarding German foreign policy.
Thus, on a question about the prospects for renewed talks with Iran, Steinmeier said that "the next days will be crucial. The negotiations have been being conducted for 10 years, mostly without success. Some of the obstacles have been overcome. But still, the last barriers are the most difficult. Therefore, we have concentrated all our efforts on how to achieve a result in the negotiations, which were resumed on Monday. There is a chance, and it would be irresponsible to miss it."
About the Syrian crisis and the possibility of the involvement of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Steinmeier noted that "the conflict in Syria began with the suppression of the general public by the regime and therefore the regime cannot be a solution. Despite the fact that the civil war has been continuing for 4 years and has claimed the lives of more than 250 thousand people, we are still far from a solution to this conflict. The UN is trying to create an island of tranquility in Syria, where there is no fighting and where people are not forced to flee. We try to maintain it to the best of our ability."
The theme of the conflict between the West and Russia, as well as the Ukrainian crisis, was also regularly raised during the online conference. "Russia will continue to be our neighbor, in sorrow and joy. Therefore, we must solve the Ukrainian conflict, patiently and persistently working on a political decision, and not lose our relations with Russia in the long term," Steinmeier said.
He also stressed that "we have not initiated a conflict with Russia, but we are struggling with the consequences of the annexation of the Crimea, which violated the peaceful way in Europe. And those who rightly see our role should come to the conclusion that we are on the side that puts a lot of effort into neutralizing this conflict."
Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said that "the inviolability of borders is not only a part of the European system of values, but also a fundamental principle of the UN Charter."
