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| 'Five questions' to Avi Primor
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Avi Primor
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Born in 1935 in Israel, Avi Primor has had a vast diplomatic career. His last post was ambassador of Israel to Germany (1993-1999). From 1987 until 1991, he was ambassador to the European Union and concurrently to Belgium and Luxembourg. Earlier, he headed various departments at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
A former vice-President of the Hebrew university of Jerusalem (1991-1993) and vice-President of Tel Aviv university (1999-2003), he is today director of the Trilateral Center for European studies at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzlia.
Primor is author of several books, including “Le Triangle des Passions” (edited in France) about Israel’s relations with Germany and France.
EJP : What do you think about the political situation in Germany following the inconclusive general elections?
AP: I am convinced that the Christian Democrats (of Angela Merkel) and the Social Democrats (of outgoing chancellor Gerhard Schroeder) will form a ’grand coalition’ because they have no other choice, neither party having won a majority. In fact, there is no big difference between Schroeder and Merkel on various topics, especially foreign policy. On Israel, anti-Semitism and the Jews, declarations from both leaders have been quite similar. On France-Germany’s special relation as a ’pillar’ within the European Union, there is no difference and on the US war in Iraq, it’s a question of nuances. The difference is sometimes bigger between their respective parties, SPD and CDU.
| On Turkey |
 I am opposed to Turkey’s entry to the EU, contrary to the average Israeli who thinks it’s positive because Turkey has good relations with Israel
Avi Primor | No, the sole and real “big” difference is on Turkey’s entry into the EU. Schroeder is in favour because he thinks he can win the millions of Turkish voters living in the country, while Merkel is totally opposed and is convinced that these voters are already voting SPD anyway.
EJP: Is this a good thing for Germany’s economy?
AP: No. It is bad thing because the economy is influenced by psychology. Today, Germans are keeping and saving their money because they do not see any positive future. This means no investment and no consumption, which is bad for the economy. I think a coalition between the Christian-Democrats and Liberals would have been ’psychologically better’ for the economy. Look what is happening to Israel’s economy, when the political situation is getting better, instead of a negative growth seen during the ’Intifada years’ we are now at a 4-5 percent increase since the government decided to disengage.
EJP : Relations between EU and Israel are warming. Do you think this will last?
AP: Relations between the EU and Israel have been always influenced by politics, not economics. Agreements between the two sides, such as the association or the scientific accords, only advanced when the EU thought that Israel is on the correct path in the peace process. We saw that when the EU supported the decision to disengage from Gaza. This will last as long as the Europeans feel that Israel is heading in the right direction.
EJP : Soon negotiations will start between the EU and Turkey on their entrance to the union. What is your feeling?
| German's Elections |
In fact, there is no big difference between Schroeder and Merkel on various topics, especially foreign policy. On Israel, anti-Semitism and the Jews, declarations from both leaders have been quite similar. On France-Germany’s special relation as a ’pillar’ within the European Union, there is no difference and on the US war in Iraq, it’s a question of nuances
Avi Primor | AP: I am opposed to Turkey’s entry to the EU, contrary to the average Israeli who thinks it’s positive because Turkey has good relations with Israel.
In entering the EU Turkey would become the greatest country in the EU. I think the European Union has not yet ’digested’ its current enlargement while it needs to deepen itself. Moreover, Turks are totally different from the rest of Europe both in their mentality and their culture. The countries which are in favour of Turkey’s entry, like the U.K., don’t want to have a ’deepened’ EU and rather prefer a large free trade Europe.
EJP : Do you think Jews in Europe should leave their countries and come to Israel ?
AP: Firstly, I am a Zionist and I think every Jew should live in Israel. But I am also realistic and as a democrat I want to let every person choose where he wants to live.
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