German Interior Minister: "People Will Feel Safe"

Wolfgang Schäuble, a member of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, is currently serving as the country's federal interior minister for the second time after previously occupying that position from 1989 to 1991. In 1990, Schäuble was paralyzed after he was shot by an assassin.

DW-TV: As Germany's interior minister you are also in charge of sport policy. How far do you think Germany will go in the soccer World Cup?

Schäuble: I'm not only the sports minister; I'm also an enthusiastic soccer fan. And a real fan always hopes his team will win.

Germany hosted the world cup finals once before, 32 years ago. West Germany beat Holland 2-1 in the final. Do you remember that day in summer of 1974?

Very clearly. Even though I was still quite young, I had the amazing good fortune to be at the final -- my wife, was too -- and we sat next to the soccer legend Fritz Walter. It was fantastic. And we were in Rome in 1990 -- I was interior minister at the time -- when Germany again won the World Cup. My wife has only attended two major matches -- and each time she saw the Germans become world champions. If Germany makes it to the final, she has promised to come. All I can say is: Whenever I was interior minister, Germany became world champions. So it's looking good.

As interior minister you are responsible for security at the World Cup finals. What's the greatest challenge? Is it hooligans -- or is it the possibility of terrorist attacks?

The greatest challenge, in my view, has to do with something else. For the first time, "public viewing" is going to be a major factor -- not just in the stadiums, where the matches are actually played, but all over the country on large screens -- accompanied by parties and celebrations and events. We are, however, very well prepared. As the chair of the conference of state interior ministers pointed out, there's probably never been such careful preparation for an event as big as this. Of course no one can ever guarantee one hundred per cent security, but the chances are good. People will feel safe.

What kind of security measures will there be to protect the teams from the US and Iran -- both of which may need special protection?

They will be protected in their quarters by German police. And it's likely that the Americans and the Iranians will also have their own security measures. Our intelligence services are gathering all information which could give any indication of a threat. So we're doing whatever can be done.

Security at the games also means security for the hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world. Can you tell the fans that Germany is safe? Will we really be able to completely fulfill the promise of the motto: "A Time to Make Friends"

Of course. You can already feel that. Whenever a team arrives here -- and most of them are here now -- people celebrate. The great majority of Germans are open-minded, they're not xenophobic, they're happy the world is coming to visit us, they're looking forward to this wonderful experience, and the incredible diversity and color of this world championship. And we will prevent the tiny minority -- if they haven't already been won over by the enthusiasm of the great majority -- from doing any harm. And they will be isolated by majority of the fans -- who just don't want this.

We've also had a rather unpleasant debate here in Germany about so-called "no-go-areas." Some politicians, some organizations, also some embassies, are warning fans with a clear non-European background, not to go into certain areas, particularly in eastern Germany, saying it's too dangerous for them there, that too many potentially violent right-wing extremists live there. Are there "no-go-areas" for foreigners in Germany?

There mustn't be. But there are areas where people may be less safe, especially at night. That's why I'm telling the local police that we need a stronger police presence. But we don't just need a police presence during the day; we especially need it in the evening. That's more difficult with duty hours. All the authorities, all the state interior ministers are in agreement that we have to tackle this. Society as a whole also needs to get involved. We cannot allow a climate of hopelessness to develop. We can't just accept talk that the extreme-right NPD has more to offer young men than other organizations. That's a disgrace for the rest of us. That can be changed. It must be changed. And I believe it will change.

Right-wing extremists have announced they want to stir up trouble at the World Cup -- for example at the game between Iran and Angola in Leipzig. Are you intending to ban neo-Nazi demonstrations outside the stadiums?

Of course, but the federal states are responsible for this, rather than me. They've already announced they'll ban this, and I hope that the courts will support the decision. There's always the consideration of the freedom to demonstrate. But I think criminals and the lunatic fringe shouldn't be given the opportunity to get all the attention that the World Cup will be focusing on Germany, with billions of people watching.

The Iranian team has one very problematic fan, the president of their country, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has publicly made clearly anti-Semitic statements. If he should decide to come and watch his team play here in Germany, would he be welcome?

It is clear that we will adhere to international law, that we will fulfill the guarantees we gave to FIFA when we applied to host the World Cup. It's senseless to now debate these abstract issues here in Germany. The statements the Iranian president has made (also in a German news magazine) -- in particular, though not only, about Israel, but also about the Holocaust -- are completely abhorrent and unacceptable, whether or not he comes to the World Cup or not.

And finally: You're tipping Germany to win the cup. Who' will they face in the final?

Well I mustn't go too far out on a limb here. I didn't say that was my tip. I said that's what I'm hoping, didn't I? I'm not in a position to give a completely unemotional analysis. I wouldn't right now claim that Germany, objectively, everything considered, is the leading team in the world. That would just raise doubts about my soccer expertise. But I do say I'm hopeful, they could get up there. And any team who's there in the final, any team who's prepared to lose against Germany 2-1 in the final match, is fine by me. Actually that's all 31 other teams. The key thing would be us winning. And if we don't, it will still be a great World Cup, that's clear.