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Namibia, Germany Reparations Talks Off

The Namibian (Windhoek)
NEWS
December 8, 2005
Posted to the web December 8, 2005

By Christof Maletsky
Windhoek
NAMIBIA and Germany have called off talks, which were scheduled for next week
and at which the 20 million euro donation for war reparations was expected to
feature prominently.
German Ambassador Wolfgang Massing informed The Namibian yesterday that the
talks had been postponed until a yet to be announced date sometime next year.
Massing said the meeting between the two governments had been postponed to give
Namibia more time to consider the new proposals that came up during President
Hifikepunye Pohamba's recent visit to Germany.
"The Namibian Government have some fresh ideas and came up with new proposals
for assistance after what they saw in Germany. They indicated that they need
time to finalise them. We proposed that it be done during the first half of
next year," Massing said in an interview.
Among the new proposals expected from Namibia were future projects on land
reform and the transport sector.
Massing, who was also in Germany during President Pohamba's official visit,
said last week's top level discussions between the two countries went well.
This was despite an element of surprise when Namibia declined to sign a
memorandum of understanding that would have paved the way for a donation of 20
million euro (about N$160 million).
Namibia's Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku said they rejected the signing because
they wanted to consult Hereros, Namas, Damaras and the San.
German Minister for Development and Co-operation Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said
the deal would effectively pave the way for reparations to the communities
massacred during the colonial era, which lasted from 1884 to 1915.
Massing said the German side was under the impression that the Namibian Cabinet
had given the go-ahead for the signing of the memorandum of understanding and
was surprised when they refused.
"However, we fully respect and understand their decision to consult first. Now
it is up to the Namibian Government to come back to us. We will wait for the
outcome of their consultations," Massing said.
Last week, Hausiku told The Namibian that Germany wanted to jump the gun with
the agreement.
He said he had personally written a letter to Wieczorek-Zeul in which he
explained that an assessment with the specific target groups was needed before
an agreement could be signed by the two governments.
Massing said among the issues to be discussed will be Germany's proposal to
increase assistance to Namibia from 12 million Euro (N$96 million) to 13,5
million Euro (N$108 million).
He said the idea was to ultimately double the assistance.
The German Ambassador said Berlin was impressed with Namibia's handling of land
reform, its anti-corruption initiatives and involvement in the African Union.

   

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