Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schröder is a German politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005, during which his most important political initiative was Agenda 2010. As a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , he led a coalition government of the SPD and the Greens.
Before becoming a full-time politician, he was a lawyer, and before becoming Chancellor he served as Prime Minister of Lower Saxony . Following the 2005 federal election, which his party lost, after three weeks of negotiations he stood down as Chancellor in favour of Angela Merkel of the rival Christian Democratic Union. He is currently the chairman of the board of Nord Stream AG and of Rosneft, after having been hired as a global manager by investment bank Rothschild, and also the chairman of the board of football club Hannover 96. Wikipedia
“We don't wage war, but we are called upon to impose a peaceful solution”
24 March 1999 on German television, quoted in the documentary film ‘Es begann mit einer Lüge’, the complete manuscript of the film http://www.ag-friedensforschung.de/themen/NATO-Krieg/ard-sendung.html <br class="br">Context: We don't wage war, but we are called upon to impose a peaceful solution in Kosovo by military means as well.
Wir werden Leistungen des Staates kürzen, Eigenverantwortung fördern und mehr Eigenleistung von jedem Einzelnen abfordern müssen. <br class="br">government policy statement, 14 March 2003, quoted on ksta.de http://www.ksta.de/politik/hintergrund--das-reformpaket---132agenda-2010--148,15187246,13237294.html
Wir müssen darauf bestehen, dass unserer Integrationsbereitschaft der Integrationswille bei denen entspricht, die zu uns kommen <br class="br">on the integration of immigrants, laudatory speech on the occasion of the presentation of the ’Preis für Toleranz und Verständigung’ (Prize for Tolerance and Understanding), 20 November 2004, quoted on dradio.de http://www.dradio.de/dlr/sendungen/fazit/323593/
Jassir Arafats Streben war zeit seines Lebens darauf gerichtet, die Palästinenser in die Unabhängigkeit zu führen und einen souveränen, lebensfähigen palästinensischen Staat zu errichten. <br class="br">letter of condolence to the then prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority Ahmed Qurei, 11 November 2004, quoted on zeit.de http://www.zeit.de/2004/47/Arafat_c
“I believe him, and I'm convinced that he is.”
Ich glaube ihm das, und ich bin davon überzeugt, dass er das ist. <br class="br">responding to the question Ist Putin ein lupenreiner Demokrat? (Is Putin an exemplary democrat?), interview on the TV show ‘Beckmann’, 23 November 2004, quoted on dradio.de http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/interview_dlf/1015218/
