Apparently, however, the subject of police assistance is once again gaining greater weight in the BMZ's thinking. BMZ state secretary Erich Stather said the reverse side of neglecting the public security sector was the privatisation of state power in the form of commercial security services or even companies that supplied mercenaries. But the subject is still a delicate one for the ministry even 15 years after its bad experience with Guatemala, whose government in the 1980s violated human rights with a police apparatus financed by German development assistance. For instance, poverty reduction is important for human security. Disarmament is more than just the reduction of armed forces and armaments and must take into account prevailing intra-societal causes of violent conflict.
Development is more than just economic growth.
It also includes the strengthening of democratic institutions, a strong civil society, poverty reduction and guaranteed health for all. The policy dialogue was not seen as a one-off event. In the view of Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, it should lend fresh impetus to the idea of a coherent development, disarmament and security policy.