By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

Keeping with the 2001 international theme of the Los Altos Rotary Club, Walter Leuchs, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Thursday, discussed the status of Germany today for the Rotarians.

Statistically, Germany is smaller than California, but has a population of more than 84 million, Leuchs said.

“We were concerned about the terrorism on Sept. 11. The German government has offered soldiers to help combat terrorism and the people have contributed more than $40 million to the victims of Sept. 11.” Leuchs said.

“The most important single event in this century took place on Nov. 9, 1989, when the Berlin Wall was opened by East Germans and torn down by the end of 1990 as Communism collapsed and the Cold War ended,” Leuchs said. This allowed the six states from Eastern Germany to rejoin the German nation.

Leuchs discussed the European Union as the framework for the construction of a united Europe. Created after the World War II, it was meant to unite the nations of Europe economically so another war among them would be unthinkable.

Fifteen countries representing 375 million people are members. There are intense negotiations to include a dozen more countries. The Union has brought an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity to Western Europe in spite of the diversity of its member-countries, each with a different culture.

The idea behind European integration was to create a single market in which goods, services, people and capital could move as freely as it does within one country.

“Over the years, the free market system has lent competence to foreign trade, economic developments and extended to new areas that include research, technology and energy.” Leuchs said.

A major step in the European Union was the development of a single currency, the Euro. It exists as the currency as of Jan. 1, 1999, and will gradually move into general use with the introduction of coins and notes next year.

“Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden are not included in the Euro currency.” Leuchs said. “The German mark still exists as a national currency but will disappear in 2002.”

Leuchs said he was optimistic of the future for the Euro, but at present the primary struggle is against terrorism.

Leuchs was queried as to why Turkey was not admitted to the European Union while several communist countries were.

“Geography is the main reason, because it is closer to the Middle East than Europe,” Leuchs said.

“(In addition) their human rights have been criticized. And outside of Istanbul, the country is undeveloped and couldn’t stand the competition of the free market.”

As for Britain, Leuchs said England does not want to be European.