Germany and United Nation

Introduction

The relationship between Germany and United Nations started building up after the Second World War. On September 18, 1973 Germany was admitted as a full member of United Nation. It took around 30 years for Germany to be a member of United Nation, which seemed unthinkable at first.

United Nation (UN), international organization established on October 24, 1945. The United Nations (UN) was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. The name United Nations was originally used to denote the countries allied against Germany, Italy, and Japan. On January 1, 1942, 26 countries signed the Declaration by United Nations, which set forth the war aims of the Allied powers(1).

The UN has four main purposes:

1. To keep peace throughout the world.
2. To develop friendly relations among the nations.
3. To help Nations to work together to improve the lives of the poor people.
4. To be a center for harmonizing the action of nations to achieve peace.

In the case of Germany after WW2, the division of itself into  the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and  the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was the problem it was going through which led  the focus of the majority of the population centered on issues concerning their immediate livelihood and economic reconstruction. Thoughts about the future of German foreign policy were cast into the background, especially since it remained open whether or not Germany, after all of its crimes, could become a member of the free and peaceful world community. Indeed, during the foundation of the global community the so-called “enemy states articles” of the UN Charter (Art. 53, 77 and 107) established that the eventual measures taken against the former Axis Powers were not to be subjected to its stipulations. However, in 1995, these provisions were declared by the General Assembly to be “obsolete”(2)

According to the Hallstein Doctrine, any country (with the exception of the USSR) that recognized the authorities of the German Democratic Republic would not have diplomatic relations with West Germany. In the early 1970s, Willy Brandt’s policy of “New Ostpolitik” led to a form of mutual recognition between East and West Germany. The Treaty of Moscow (August 1970), the Treaty of Warsaw (December 1970), the Four Power Agreement on Berlin (September 1971), the Transit Agreement (May 1972), and the Basic Treaty (December 1972) helped to normalize relations between East and West Germany and led to both German states joining the United Nations.(3)

Germany’s contribution

The first contact that post-war Germany had with the United Nations remained in connection with the humanitarian work of different UN specialized agencies – including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to the former West German ambassador to the UN Alexander Graf York von Wartenburg: “Back then all we knew of the UN were aid packages and school lunches from UNICEF ”(2)

The beginnings of German UN membership came at a time in which the United Nations was first emerging as a powerful global institution. Due to the historic experience of the Second World War, the support of human rights initiatives stood at the heart of Germany’s UN policy. Building upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the two comprehensive human rights conventions known as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) were acceded to by both states after they acquired full membership in 1973.(2)

German experience with UN peace operations began after reunification in 1989 with the deployment of non-combat troops in Cambodia (UNTAC) and Namibia (UNTAG), as well as a larger contingent (up to 1,700 soldiers in August to October 1993) in Somalia (UNOSOM II). Since 1994, Germany has participated actively in combat missions as well, but its contributions have been heavily concentrated outside the purview of the UN, in missions deployed by NATO and the EU. Contributions to UN-led peacekeeping operations have consisted of a steady but small numbers of military observers, covering, for example, the entire mandate periods for UNOMIG, UNAMID (to date), UNMIS and UNMEE. Other contributions have included UNMIL, UNAMSIL and UNSCOM/UNIKOM (transport) and INTERFET (medical). A notable exception to this pattern is Berlin’s contribution to the maritime component of UNIFIL II; from a peak of 933 at the mission’s inception, this has been drawn down to 117 in September 2015.(4)

As the third largest financial contributor to the UN, the Federal Republic plays a deciding role in the UN. In 2012, Germany financed 8.018% of the UN’s regular biennial budget of $5.24 billion, which totaled approximately $190 million. With regards to the financing of international peace operations, the Federal Republic is the fourth largest financial contributor. Work in the International Criminal Court (ICC), specialized agencies and UN Program (e.g. UNEP andUNDP) is also made possible as a result of the financial contributions of Germany, as well as a number of other states. When examining the voluntary financial contributions to specialized agencies, Germany usually remains in 10th place. An exception is evident with regards to support of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), to which Germany is one of the largest contributors. Upon Germany’s 40th year anniversary, the UNA-Germany will pay especially close attention to the country’s numerous contributions to the UN as a world organization.(2)

Reference

Acidic, September 16, 2010 ” Why weren’t East and West Germany admitted to the United Nation until 1973?” Available at http://ask.metafilter.com/165253/Why-werent-East-and-West-Germany-admitted-to-the-United-Nations-until-1973 (Accessed on 10/21/16)

Ansorg Nadine, 2016 “Peacekeeping Contributor Profile: Germany” Kent University, Available at http://www.providingforpeacekeeping.org/2014/04/03/contributor-profile-germany/ (accessed on 10/21/16)

Fomernad Jacques, Lynch M. Cecelia, Mingst Karen, 11/30/2015 “UNITED NATION (UN): International Organization” Available at https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations (accessed on 10/21/2016)

United Nation of Association of Germany, 2016 “40 Years of German Membership in the United Nation” Available at http://www.dgvn.de/germany-in-the-united-nations/40-years-of-german-membership-in-the-united-nations/ (accessed on 10/21/2016)