Government Councillor Dominique Hasler on Economic Affairs Division and Foreign Policy Dialogues in Germany

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Political talks in the Parliament of Hesse and in Hesse's Government Chancellery

Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler met with Hessian Parliament President Astrid Wallmann (CDU) and State Minister Lucia Puttrich (CDU), who is responsible for European and federal affairs, in Wiesbaden on October 14, 2022. The talks served to exchange views on current issues such as the war of aggression on Ukraine and the related challenges for Europe such as refugee flows, sanctions and energy shortages.

During her visit to both the Parliament of Hesse and the State Chancellery of Hesse, Foreign Minister Hasler provided information on Liechtenstein's international engagement in these areas. In doing so, she also emphasized Liechtenstein's decisive stance in the European context towards Russia. At the same time, she discussed options for the creation of an accountability mechanism at the International Criminal Court (ICC) analogous to the Syria mechanism already supported by Liechtenstein to date. For decades, Liechtenstein has advocated for the rule of law and criminal accountability through its UN initiatives. In line with the international community, Liechtenstein is committed to an immediate end to Russian aggression and is working towards a full investigation of war crimes.

Relations Liechtenstein - Hesse: Industrial location, financial center and culture

The visit of the Foreign Minister served in particular to strengthen relations with the state of Hesse. Liechtenstein and Hesse have many things in common. Hesse is one of the most industrialized German states in which leading Liechtenstein industrial companies such as Hilti, Ivoclar-Vivadent and Oerlikon-Balzers also have branches. Furthermore, the financial center of Frankfurt is of importance for the Liechtenstein financial center. Liechtenstein-Hesse relations also extend to the cultural sphere, such as the annual book fair in Frankfurt, at which Liechtenstein is regularly represented, or the activities of the German-Liechtenstein Circle of Friends in Wetzlar.

High-level political talks in Berlin

From October 17 to 18, Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler visited Berlin to hold bilateral meetings at the highest official level and to participate in the Foreign Policy 2022 Forum of the Körber Foundation. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Liechtenstein's Ambassador to Germany, Isabel Frommelt-Gottschald. The aim of the visit was, on the one hand, to network Liechtenstein more closely with Germany in various Ministries and, on the other hand, to inform Germany about Liechtenstein's European "embeddedness" and multilateral engagement. For decades, Liechtenstein has been committed to shaping foreign policy as an "honest-broker" in multilateral organizations such as the UN and the OSCE.

Meeting with Ministers of State and State Secretaries of the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

In Berlin, Foreign Minister Hasler held talks with State Secretary Bärbel Kofler of the German Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ), with State Minister Tobias Lindner of the German Foreign Office, with the Political Director (Tjorven Bellmann), and with the Commissioner for General and Special International Law Issues (Tania von Uslar-Gleichen) of the German Foreign Office. In all these meetings, issues of positioning of Germany and Liechtenstein and mutual support in the face of current geopolitical upheavals were discussed.

Discussions with members of the German Bundestag and various think tanks

In the German Bundestag, the Foreign Minister met with members of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, the Europe Committee, the United Nations Subcommittee, and the Parliamentary Group/OSCE. Here, too, the delegation presented Liechtenstein's UN initiatives and had the opportunity for exchange and closer networking between Liechtenstein and Germany with members of parliament from various parties.

At a working lunch hosted by the Embassy with members of the Bundestag and representatives of think tanks and ministries, the Foreign Minister also had the opportunity to discuss Liechtenstein's position in the context of current geopolitical changes. Among those present were Anton Hofreiter (Greens), Chair of the Europe Committee in the Bundestag, and Renata Alt (FDP), Chair of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid.

Participation and keynote speech at the "Berlin Forum on Foreign Policy" of the Körber Foundation

After the opening of the Forum on October 18 by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister Dominique Hasler delivered the keynote speech at the VIP lunch on the topic of "International Criminal Justice". Liechtenstein is currently advocating for a reappraisal and strengthening of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the war crimes in Ukraine. The Berlin Foreign Policy Forum is one of the most important annual foreign policy conferences in Berlin to discuss foreign policy challenges for Germany and Europe. The 2022 Forum was dedicated to the theme "The Price of Peace: Rethinking Security for Germany and Europe," on which foreign and defense ministers debated with high-ranking representatives of the academic community. Founded in 1959, the Körber Foundation is dedicated to various social and foreign policy issues and has its own national and international projects, which it oversees from Hamburg and Berlin. Today, the foundation is one of Germany's leading platforms for foreign and social policy.