Interview with Olaf Scholz
“It’s a great success that a decision has been made”
September 10, 2023, 12:05 p.m
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Chancellor Scholz sees the G20 decision as “a completely new form of cooperation” between the West and the countries of the Global South. On the objection that the text falls short of the G20 declaration of 2022, Scholz says: “If it had gone to Russia, everything that is written here would not have been said.”
After the G20 summit in India, Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the group’s jointly agreed declaration as “important”. The decision shows “that the G20 has weight,” he said in the ntv interview.
Scholz made it clear that he viewed it as positive that there was a joint summit declaration at all – the G20 also includes Russia and China. It is “a great success that we have come so far that a decision has been made,” said Scholz. The declaration reflects “a completely new form of cooperation between the countries in the north” – here Scholz named Europe and North America – “and the countries of the Global South, in Africa, in Asia, in the South of America.”
The fact that we were able to “agree on points and also define things together with these states was important,” said Scholz, referring to the sentences on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.
“If it had gone to Russia, this wouldn’t have been said”
Unlike last year after the G20 meeting in Bali, which Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left early, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is not specifically addressed or condemned in the summit decision. We are only talking in general terms about United Nations resolutions condemning war of aggression. The text also contains a commitment to the “territorial integrity” of all states. This also fits with Russian propaganda: According to it, the war against Ukraine is not a war, but only a “special military operation” in which Russia’s territorial integrity is defended.
When asked about this, Scholz made it clear that the majority of the G20 had prevailed against Russia and China. “It’s the case that we always decide here unanimously. And without 18 countries that absolutely wanted this, it wouldn’t have happened at all. If it had gone to Russia, none of what is written here would have been said.”
Eye patch will be gone soon
Looking at his eye patch, Scholz said the wound underneath was healing faster and faster. “I think I’ll be able to take the flap off sometime next week.” The chancellor suffered a facial injury when he fell while jogging. The other heads of state and government reacted very friendly. “Everyone asked how it happened and wished me the best recovery. Everyone had already heard about it, because it was somehow noticed around the world that I was now walking around with an eye patch for a short time.”
Scholz rejected the assumption that the West was internationally isolated in its support of Ukraine. “We can see this from the fact that the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly condemned the war.” Nevertheless, in other countries there are “perspectives and questions that are completely different,” said Scholz. Many countries are concerned about rising energy prices and the threat to food security. “But my certain impression is that the longer the war lasts, the more it becomes clear to everyone that this is a war of aggression with an imperial ambition.”
Scholz promotes “underhooks”
With a view to criticism from the Union of his proposal for a Germany pact, Scholz said, “on such important national issues, it’s not about gossiping, but about working together.” He not only invited federal states and municipalities, but also “consciously the large opposition party” to make proposals “that will ensure more speed in Germany.”
“Rules and regulations have grown over decades that can no longer be implemented in the same way and that mean that everything that should be done quickly takes so long,” said Scholz. “If we agree to this, it would be the best thing for our country.” He said he was optimistic that the opposition would also join in.