Title:GERMAN AMBASSADOR (title on label) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:UNT 969
Other titles:UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION (UNTV) ZAGREB COLLECTION, YUGOSLAVIA [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Interview with German Ambassador to Croatia, Dr. Horst Weisel on the topic of the UN’s appeal for money to fund its operations in the former Yugoslavia over the next six months.
Description: Dr. Weisel says that there are problems collecting money from international organisations and the public are becoming tired of the problems that still remain unsolved. He says that annually UNPROFOR costs 1.3 billion US dollars and German bears eight percent of this cost. He says that Germany also pays 3.5 billion German Marks annually in humanitarian assistance for refugees. This is a heavy burden and so there is a feeling that they need to speed up the process of reaching a definite solution to the situation.
He says that the Treasury always asks him whether this expenditure is really necessary and that he has to convince them every time that this is the case. He says that the Ministry of Finance asks more critical questions about the political situation and have become frustrated about the lack of political progress towards a settlement.
He does stress that UNPROFOR is regarded in Germany as a necessary force to keep peace. What should be speeded up, though, are the peacemaking efforts. He says that this is not part of UNPROFOR’s role but the responsibility of the international community and the political authorities in the region.
He says that humanitarian organisations, unlike UNPROFOR, may have difficulties sustaining their programmes if they receive significantly less financial support internationally. UNHCR’s cuts are a natural response to the length of the problem. The longer it continues, the less interest there is from donors.
He says that Germany has been actively taking part as a member of the Z4 Contact Group but they are being hit by the costs of the mission. He says that although they do not have a vital interest in the former Yugoslavia, they are directly affected by the numbers of refugees arriving in Germany and the amount of money spent on their support. He admits that the impetus has shifted from the former Yugoslavia to Somalia, where the extent of the famine is shocking the international community into donating aid. He says that people do overestimate how much countries are able to give and he says, “I have to try to give a realistic picture of what Germany is able to do”.
Establishment shots of the German Ambassador at his desk.
Close up shot of a painting hanging on the wall of the German Ambassador’s office.
Alternative Title:UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION (UNTV) ZAGREB COLLECTION, YUGOSLAVIA [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:English
Digitised:
Object_Number:UNT 969
Sound:None
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:1990-2000
Production Date:1994-11-09
Production Country: UN
Production Details:
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: Croatia & Zagreb (geography)
Physical Characteristics:
Technical Details: Format: Hi-8
Footage: 60; Running time: 25 mins
