The whole world is an open, free market. No state can exist without the others.

When we strengthen our relations with the Gulf states, when we cooperate with the Arabs, everybody asks if we are looking for a new geopolitical place. But in the Middle East and the Gulf, you can find German, French and British goods everywhere. German relations to these states are very good, as are English and French relations. Does this make them Arab-oriented?

I cannot understand how sensible people still defend Facebook, YouTube and Twitter

Several experts on the Middle East concur that the Middle East cannot be democratized

I am against nuclear weapons, regardless of whether they are in the hands of Iran or Israel or any Western country. But obviously some states are allowed to have weapons of mass destruction while others are not.

The advanced levels which the democratic world has attained at the end of lengthy processes may have created the perception in the region that democracy is a distant concept; this perception can be addressed

Everyone should unconditionally accept that Israel is an indispensable element of the Middle Eastern mosaic.