The draft proposal for bilateral 'investment promotion and protection agreement' given by Germany to Pakistan has not been approved by Pakistan and is not likely to be finalised in the foreseeable future. Speaking on 'Germany, EU and Pakistan Relations' Bernd Borchardt, Germany's South Asian Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at an exchange of views programme at the German Cultural Centre said that finalisation of the draft was expected at the time of the visit of the German Chancellor to Pakistan in October last.
"It did not happen at the right time. Pakistan might have its reservations but that should have been made clear at the appropriate time. Probably, Pakistan is afraid of international mediation in disputes," he said.
He said that Pakistan should move fast and avail all business opportunities. He said that acts of terrorism still frighten him, which had been a major factor in keeping investors away from Pakistan. "Of course, Karachi City has the worst reputation in Pakistan. Let us face the fact."
He said that Germany had always acknowledged, valued and appreciated Pakistan's fight against terrorism. It had improved Pakistan's relations with European countries and the benefits of the improvement would become more evident after increase in trade and commerce became evident, he added.
Borchardt appreciate measures Pakistan has taken for improving economy, and said, "If you want to survive in competition, give reform, transparency and good governance a chance to work."
He said European countries have level playing field and have forgotten their bitter past.
He referred to relations of Germany and France and said, "Today, people are living together."
He said that trade and commerce among EU countries was on equality basis and there was no remembrance of the past. Similarly, Pakistan and India should realise the necessity of settling their disputes through dialogue and give sense of mutual understanding a chance to succeed.
He said that Germany hoped that India and Pakistan would realise the necessity of effective dialogue and with a sense of accommodation move towards settlement of all disputes in an amicable manner. "We wish one day India and Pakistan copy this example of European unification."
He said that free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and India had been successful and the markets of the two countries had goods from each other country. "Their trade has increased after Safta."
He said that India and Pakistan were likely to benefit from South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta). He referred to generalised system of preferences (GSP) and said that Germany had proposed substantial reduction in taxes, probably one-third of what exists today.
Borchardt said that Germany wanted to see a prosperous Afghanistan. "Germany is very much engaged in Afghanistan. We have no other interest in Afghanistan, be it coal, gas, oil, except its progress and well-being of the people."
He referred to those people in Europe who saw Islam as a threat to their liberty and those in the Islamic world seeing the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as 'crusade' as cynics and said these two terms had been exploited by vested interests. "This is creating anxiety on both sides. The entire matter should be left to diplomats, and not to terrorists."
He said he saw better future of the South Asian region and increase in trade and commerce between EU and South Asia.
Borchardt, born in 1955, is a career diplomat who after serving army for one year and studying psychology at the University of Muenster for four years joined Foreign Service in 1981. Since then he has been on important assignments including Charge d'Affaires at the German Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, short-term assignment in Poland and Somalia and South Africa. He had been to Estonia for three years.
In 1994 he was appointed deputy section head of the Balkan Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this position he continued till 1998. The same year he was appointed deputy head of the Kosovo Verification Mission of OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe). After one year in 1999 he became charge d'affaires at the embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
He remained there till 2002. From 2002 to 2003 he remained section head of the Europe Division. Since 2003 he is South Asia Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Berlin.
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