Germany's Westerwelle starts Latin American tour in Brazil

Feb 13, 2012, 18:23 GMT

Brasilia - Brazilian Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle launched his eight-day Latin American tour on Monday in Brazil that is also scheduled to take him to Peru, Panama and Mexico.

In an address to the powerful Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) in Brasilia, Westerwelle spoke Monday in favour of Germany's position in the eurozone crisis. The answer to the crisis, he said, must be 'more Europe, not less.'

He refuted criticism that Germany is doing too little to solve the crisis, and also the complaints that the country is too dominant and imposing its views on its European Union partners.

'We do not want a German Europe, but a European Germany,' he said.

In the run-up to the three-day official visit to Brazil, Westerwelle called the country South America's engine and 'a power with global capacity and aspirations.'

Brazil is to be the theme country for Germany's annual high profile technical fair CeBIT (Center for Office Automation, Information Technology and Telecommunication) in Hannover in March.

Westerwelle was to meet with Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota to deepen ties and prepare the visit that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is planning to make to Germany next month.

Patriota and his guest were also to discuss global matters including the eurozone crisis, reform of the United Nations and preparations for the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, set to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June.

Westerwelle is to travel to Brazil's economic capital, Sao Paulo, Tuesday and to Rio de Janeiro Wednesday, in an effort to position Germany in preparations for Brazil's 2014 football World Cup and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Brazil is a key trade partner for Germany. German exports to the South American giant amounted to 12.5 billion euros (16.5 billion dollars) in 2010, up 27 per cent compared to the previous year.

On the weekend, Westerwelle is to take part in a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.

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