DAR AL HARB/ISLAM: THE WEST SHOULD INCREASE ITS EFFORTS TO DIALOGUE WITH ISLAM

German FM urges greater western efforts for dialogue with Islamic world Berlin

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for stepped up western efforts to promote dialogue with the Islamic world.

Talking to Friday's edition of the Dresden-based Saechsische Zeitung newspaper, the foreign minister stressed that efforts for a dialogue with the Arabic-Muslim world had to be "further
strengthened".

"We need especially stability and peace in the regions of the Near and Middle East," Steinmeier added.

He also warned that the global campaign against terror cannot be won only by military means, citing the example of Afghanistan.

Germany is mostly involved in the Afghan civilian reconstruction process as well as training the Afghan police force.

Berlin has been at odds with our western powers like the US, Britain and Canada for focusing too much on the military campaign in Afghanistan rather than civilian reconstruction efforts.

Some 3,000 German troops are based in northern Afghanistan as part of the 38,000-strong International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).




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