BUENOS AIRES: The German people have learned from the past and are capable of dealing with any extreme right-wing political elements, West German Foreign Minister Willy Brandt said here today [Oct 22].

Brandt, who was addressing a packed news conference following talks with Argentine President Juan Carlos Ongania, had been asked about the extreme right-wing “national German Party” (NPD), regarded by many as a neo-Nazi organisation.

He said he fully realised that organisations like the NPD were being watched carefully and with suspicion by people abroad.

Referring to Sunday’s communal elections in three West German provinces, in which the NPD lost large numbers of votes, Brandt said there was certainly no reason to belittle the Party, but it should not be dramatised.

The German people are capable of dealing with these elements. Brandt said his talks with the Argentine President had taken place in an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.

The attitude of both the countries towards the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty had also been raised.

The Bonn Government was reported to be trying to persuade the European Common Market to take a more liberal import policy on beef supplies from Argentina.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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