The role of lawmakers in solving world issues

Norbert Lammert

Asian countries, including Korea, have a vital role to play in addressing global issues, according to a German politician.

“Asian countries and we, Germany, have many things in common, economically and politically, so we hope to form strategic partnerships with them,” Norbert Lammert, the president of the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, said in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo last week.

He cited international security, global warming and energy, among others, as areas that call for multilateral partnership.

Lammert, 59, was in Korea last week at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o. He left on Sunday.

The German politician said lawmakers from Germany and Asian countries can play a crucial role in tackling those issues through joint efforts.

“Issues like fighting global warming and energy security are too important to be left in the hands of the governments,” he said.

“The solutions to those issues require the knowledge of related laws and that’s where the role of lawmakers is needed.

“Joint efforts among the parliamentarians of different countries would be more effective than individual efforts.”

The interview was conducted in Korean and German through an interpreter.

While in Korea, Lammert received an honorary doctorate in political sciences from Korea University. He met with President Lee Myung-bak Friday and also visited former President Kim Dae-jung.

A Ph.D. in social sciences, Lammert has published numerous papers on political parties and issues related to economic and social problems.

By Han Kyung-hwan JoongAng Ilbo [joe@joongang.co.kr]