  | |
| United Nationsmembership | |
|---|---|
| Membership | Full member |
| Since | 18 September 1967 (1967-09-18) |
| Former name(s) |
|
| UNSC seat | Non-permanent (G4 member) |
| Ambassador | Antje Leendertse |
 | |
| United Nationsmembership | |
|---|---|
| Membership | Former full member |
| Dates | 18 September 1973 (1973-09-18) – 3 October 1990 (1990-10-03) |
| UNSC seat | Non-permanent (elected once) |
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The relationship ofGermany and theUnited Nations first began duringWorld War II. TheUnited Nations then was synonymous with theAllies of World War II and Germany then being theGreater German Reich, a member of theAxis powers. With the war ending in the defeat of Germany, the country's territory was divided amongst the victors and what was to remain Germany was underAllied administration. In 1949, two new countries were created in these occupied territories: theFederal Republic of Germany (West Germany) in May and theGerman Democratic Republic (East Germany) in October.
Both Germanies were admitted as full members of the United Nations (UN) on 18 September 1973. The two countries eventuallymerged on 3 October 1990, signifying an end of theCold War era.
Germany is the fourth largest contributor to the UN budget. Germany contributes 6.09 percent of this budget, or approximately 176 millionUS dollars.[1]
TheFederal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was admitted to the UN as an observer in 1952. TheGerman Democratic Republic (East Germany) was admitted as an observer in 1972.[2] On 18 September 1973 both were admitted as full members by the United Nations General Assembly, following the recommendation of the Security Council byResolution 335 on 22 June 1973. Through theaccession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, effective on 3 October 1990, the territory of the German Democratic Republic became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, today simply known asGermany.[3] Consequently, the Federal Republic of Germany continued being a member of the UN while the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist.[4]
For the years of 2011 to 2012 Germany has been elected as a non-permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, Germany received criticism from its European and US allies for abstaining on theResolution to intervene in Libya that they were voting for. Former German Foreign MinisterJoschka Fischer argued that "Germany has lost its credibility in the United Nations and in the Middle East. German hopes for a permanent seat on the Security Council have been permanently dashed and one is now fearful of Europe's future."[5][6]
France and the United Kingdom have explicitly called for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council for their close EU partner.[7][8] French presidentJacques Chirac said in a speech in Berlin in 2000 that "Germany's engagement, its ranking as agreat power, its international influence—France would like to see them recognized with a permanent seat on the Security Council".[9] The former GermanChancellor,Gerhard Schröder, also identified Russia, among other countries, as a country that backed Germany's bid.[10]Italy and theNetherlands on the contrary, suggest a commonEuropean Union (EU) seat in the Council instead of Germany becoming the second European member next to France (and the former EU member, the UK). The former German Foreign MinisterJoschka Fischer said that Germany would also accept a common European seat; however, as long as France and the UK are not willing to give up their own seats, Germany should also have a seat.[10] Thus, the German campaign for a permanent seat was intensified in 2004. Schröder made himself perfectly clear in August 2004: "Germany has the right to a seat."[11] Its bid is supported by Japan, India, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, among other countries. Former German ChancellorAngela Merkel, who had initially been quiet on the issue, re-stated Germany's bid in her address to the UN General Assembly in September 2007. In July 2011, Merkel's trip to Kenya, Angola, and Nigeria was thought to be motivated, in part, by the goal of seeking support from African countries for Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.[12]
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