Interview MIAT
Stefan Duppel: “Coming to Mongolia, I make new discoveries every day”
This magazine has a tradition of inviting ambassadors from different countries to chat for our
“Diplomat” section. We talk not only about their professional lives as diplomats, but also their
personal experiences, their impressions of the countries they have served in, as well as their
thoughts on Mongolia and Mongolians. This time we conversed with H.E. Stefan Duppel,
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mongolia.
Ambassador Duppel, several months have passed since you took up your post. If you were to
compare life to an adventure story, I’m sure you would say that this country is full of surprises for
you. How have you found it?
Mongolia was a dream posting for my wife and myself: stunning scenery and friendly people
are a combination which is hard to resist. At the same time, Mongolia is an important partner
for Germany in geopolitical terms – nowhere else in the region did the establishment of
democracy and freedom succeed after 1990. We want to support that on a long-term basis.
As for surprises, there are a number of links between Germany and Mongolia which never
fail to astonish me: the first Mongolians went to Germany for vocational training way back in
the 1920s, even before the country had gained independence. Today one percent of the
population speaks German, more than in any other Asian country. Conversely, nowhere else
in Asia are more Germans engaged in joint projects: in the field of environmental protection,
in the education sector, in the media, in business or in the modernisation of the justice system
and administration.
I discover something new every day in Mongolia. I’ve had such a wide variety of experiences,
which I’ve found very rewarding personally.
Your wife Elena Alonso Frayle is a writer and she was also a singer in the renowned Berliner
Oratorienchor. How did your first conversation go when you told her that you were being posted to
Mongolia? How did your family react to the news?
Joy and excitement: that was our foremost reaction! For my wife, too, Mongolia held a special
fascination. She finds literary inspiration in the country’s rich cultural heritage and its
chequered history. The great singing tradition here is another reason why she feels such a
close affinity with Mongolia.
As for our two sons, they’re both studying and for the first time are not accompanying us
abroad. When they heard that we were going to live among Genghis Khan’s descendants they
were deeply impressed and a bit envious that they couldn’t share this experience.
And we have a very, very long list of friends who are keen to visit us here.
Elena Alonso Frayle has written several novels. Has she already started to write about Mongolia and
the Mongolians? This spring, she performed in “La Traviatia” together with Mongolian artists. I’m
sure that you’re one of her most loyal fans. Which characters in your wife’s novels and which of the
roles she’s performed do you particularly like?
My wife always takes time to get to know a country and its people. She gathers experiences
and observes what’s going on around her. You can be sure that her time here in Mongolia will
result in a novel!
Incidentally, one of her books is being translated into Mongolian at the moment and we’re
eager to see how Mongolian readers will react.
Naturally, our life together is reflected in many of my wife’s literary works. You won’t be
surprised to hear that this – regardless of any literary merit – is especially important to me.
When, for example, I see before me Laura – the main character in her book “La edad de la
anestesia” – who suffers from heart disease, she reminds me of my son, who had a similar
condition, and the anguish this caused.
In terms of music, I’ve had many moving moments thanks to my wife, for example listening to
her performing Mahler’s 8th Symphony at the Philharmonie in Berlin. However, another
special moment were undoubtedly her performances here in Mongolia. Alongside “La
Traviata” and “Lucia di Lammermoor” in the opera house, she has also performed
Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” on television in the presence of the President to mark the
Mongolian New Year.
If you don’t mind, Ambassador Duppel, I’d like to ask you a question to get to know you better
personally: what are your hobbies and interests? In which region did you start your voyage of
discovery here in Mongolia?
I’ve always been a keen traveller curious to discover the world’s diversity. I’m also especially
interested in history and architecture. As for other personal interests, I like to play chess and
am now an honorary member of the Mongolian Chess Association.
It was especially gratifying to see how much my interests were reflected in my first trips
within Mongolia.
My first trip took me to Karakorum and into the Orkhon Valley, the cradle and heart of the
country. Moreover, it has been the site of German-Mongolian cooperation for two decades
with joint excavations to research and preserve Mongolia’s cultural heritage and to make it
accessible to the public.
My second trip not only gave me an opportunity to view German projects aimed at renovating
schools and protecting the ecosystem in Otgon Tenger. In Uliastay I was also able to open the
school chess programme there and even play a game or two ...
Our home country always stays in our hearts. You were born in Tübingen. What do you associate
with your home town?
Tübingen is one of Europe’s oldest university cities. It thus belongs to both the past and the
future. It’s a town marked by a thirst for knowledge and international exchange, open to the
world, philosophical and yet a down-to-earth small town in the Swabian region. If you ask
me, those are not the worst attributes a town could have. They have almost certainly
influenced my life to some extent.
Germany is home to great philosophers, writers, poets and composers. To put it in a nutshell, it’s
home to great geniuses. What philosophy lies at the heart of the upbringing of German children and
how are cultural traditions passed down from one generation to the next?
There’s no German one-size-fits-all method when it comes to raising children. However, from
my own personal experience I believe that two things are important:
teaching young people to be both critical and self-critical, to be independent and to shoulder
responsibility. It’s not enough to teach them facts. Our open society needs responsible citizens.
What’s more, the inventiveness of a German engineer or a great philosopher begins with
questioning what exists and never being satisfied with what has been achieved.
Secondly, we should take to heart Goethe’s belief that those who don’t know other cultures
don’t know their own. For a country like Germany, situated in the heart of Europe and
surrounded by nine neighbours, the idea that it’s important to get to know the world’s
cultural diversity has always held true. Yet in the age of globalisation, it’s more important
than ever for everyone to heed this, whether in the Mongolian steppe or in the Bavarian Alps.
Our impression is that people here in Mongolia are much more informal, for example when it
comes to talking about personal matters in the workplace or spending time on Facebook or with
private e-mails. Have you been confronted with these cultural differences?
I can assure you that people in Germany don’t only talk about official matters in the
workplace. What’s more, I appreciate the fact that it’s so easy to build a personal relationship
with Mongolians beyond official business.
Nonetheless, not every kind of informality can be regarded as progress. Now and again, you
talk to people who seem to find the messages on the mobiles more important than the one-toone conversation they’re currently engaged in. However, that’s certainly not a Mongolian
characteristic. Rather, if you ask me, it’s an annoying phenomenon of our time.
Your first posting abroad was to Spain, then you went to the home of Evita, Argentina, and then
Bangkok – what lasting memories do you have of these posts?
As a young diplomat in Spain in 1996, I accompanied the then Chancellor Helmut Kohl when
he was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias Award for International Cooperation, first and
foremost for his services to European integration. For me, this signalled a positive attitude
within society towards a united Europe, a mood tangible all over Spain at that time – and not
only there. Unfortunately, this atmosphere has diminished somewhat. Our goal must be to
regain this spirit in Europe. In personal terms, I of course mainly associate my years in
Madrid with the birth of our two sons.
I had very different experiences during my stints in Argentina and Thailand. Both countries
were experiencing profound crises within their societies. The Argentine state went bankrupt
in 2001 and there were violent clashes between political camps in Thailand, resulting in
dozens of deaths and the seizure of power by the military.
It became clear what disastrous consequences there can be in comparatively developed
countries if sectional interests gain the upper hand and cohesion is lost within society and the
political class.
Germany is the main industrialised nation in Europe and the largest exporter to Asia. The country
has also played a key role in tackling the euro crisis. What’s the secret of Germany’s success?
There’s still much to do in Europe and we will only get back on track if we work together. It
was certainly a help during the euro crisis that we in Germany – partly thanks to our export
successes in Asia – were enjoying robust economic growth when the situation escalated
elsewhere in Europe. In the medium term, Europe has to increase its overall ability to
innovate and its competitiveness if it is to compete with up-and-coming countries especially
here in Asia.
There are no easy formulas for success, especially as conditions are very different in every
country. However, it’s crucial to have political leaders who never lose sight of their country’s
overall interests. That’s not only illustrated by the German example.
To what extent has Germany supported Mongolia within the framework of development
cooperation since 1992 and which areas are currently the main focus of this cooperation?
Projects to the tune of 350 million euros have been implemented within the context of
development cooperation, whose 25th anniversary we’re celebrating this year. Mongolia is
therefore currently receiving more money from Germany per capita than any other country in
the world! That demonstrates the great importance we attach to cooperation with Mongolia,
as a strategic partner in the region.
The current focal areas are protection of the unique nature, more efficient use of energy and
the establishment of a sustainable management of natural resources. The aim is to foster
economic development in which all of the country’s citizens can participate and which is
sustainable, i.e. in harmony with nature.
One area especially close to my heart is education. I firmly believe that the knowledge gained
by the young generation is a country’s true wealth of resources. That’s why Germany is
assisting Mongolia with large-scale education projects, from kindergartens to schools and
universities. There is a particular focus on vocational training, which has always been one of
the keys to Germany’s economic success. All in all, we want to help ensure that Mongolians
are even better equipped in future to shape their country’s modernisation on their own.
There has been a raw materials and technology partnership between Mongolia and Germany since
2011. The last meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Economic Committee took
place in Berlin last December. What is the aim of this partnership and which projects have been
realised so far?
One key beacon project of this cooperation is the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources
and Technology established in 2013. It offers Mongolian students an opportunity for the first
time to do an engineering course which meets international standards without having to go
abroad. The hope is that this will result in more leading positions in the mining sector being
filled by Mongolians in future.
With regard to cooperation among companies, the economic crisis in Mongolia is currently
making it more difficult to fund many projects. Nevertheless, there have been quantifiable
successes. For example, the production of steel balls for mining began in Darkhan in January.
Previously, they had to be imported from abroad. Furthermore, we’re expecting a wind farm
project to get started soon in the Gobi Desert. Mongolia has enormous potential in the sphere
of renewable energies and taking advantage of this potential is one of the focuses of our
partnership.
Nearly everyone is talking about the economic crisis at present. Some believe that an economic
crisis can also provide opportunities. How do German companies and investors see this in relation
to Mongolia?
I believe that the crisis has shown many people that it’s necessary, and indeed possible, for the
country to take the next step in development. The Government has opted for budget
consolidation, improved conditions for investors, economic diversification and promised to
fight corruption. German companies have noted this with approval and an increasing interest
in Mongolia is evident. However, winning new investors is a marathon rather than a sprint.
Major investment decisions are not made overnight and Mongolia faces tough international
competition. Nevertheless, I’m convinced that the country has a very good chance if the
Government resolutely implements the strategy it has formulated.
It’s often said that the Tavan Tolgoi project is too politicised. What’s your view? What do
Mongolians lack when it comes to working fairly with foreign investors and gaining their trust?
The creation of fair and reliable conditions is the basic prerequisite for all-round successful
cooperation. Investors complain that this hasn’t always been possible in Mongolia in the past,
and I share that view.
However, Mongolian people also often – rightly – criticise the lack of transparency in
decision-making. Reconciling the interests of the population and investors forms the
foundation for cooperation based on mutual trust and must therefore be our aim.
Among the Mongolians living in Germany, some are actively and successfully involved in the
cultural and art sphere or in social organisations. Conversely, there are many German experts in
many different sectors in Mongolia. Some of them have such deep roots that they could be called
honorary Mongolians.
Among other things, they’re working here in close cooperation with Mongolian partners in
development projects, at cultural institutions or for political foundations. How closely does the
Embassy work with them?
Indeed, the network of partnerships with Mongolia is closer than with most other countries.
As I mentioned before, this applies to development cooperation, with major institutions such
as GIZ or KfW as well as with the very successful Senior Expert Service. However, it also
applies to cultural institutions such as the Goethe-Institut, school and university partnerships,
town twinnings, the work of the political foundations and, not least, individual initiatives such
as German professors and doctors who pass on their expertise to colleagues here in Mongolia.
Incidentally, with its flights to Berlin and Frankfurt – its only intercontinental flights – MIAT
has played a key role in ensuring that this unique network of links continues to grow.
Germans and Mongolians engaged in this way have made a key contribution towards
ensuring that the two countries are closely linked as “third neighbours”. It’s therefore very
important to me personally to do all I can to support the work done by these initiatives. Those
engaged in these projects form the real foundation of German-Mongolian friendship.
Is academic education at universities and other higher education institutions in Germany still free?
Does that also apply to Mongolians and what chances do they have of gaining a scholarship? How
many Mongolian scholarship holders are there and are their numbers increasing?
Germany is proud that its university education is largely free, not only for Germans and
Europeans but for students from all over the world. It’s therefore not absolutely necessary for
Mongolians to have a scholarship to study in Germany, even if there are still German
scholarships on offer for outstanding students, especially in the postgraduate sector.
As I’ve already pointed out, a degree course in Germany has a long tradition in Mongolia.
The number of Mongolians who have studied in Germany is impressive – around 30,000!
Many of them are contributing to their country’s development in leading positions in the
world of politics, business and the culture scene. At present, there are between 600 and
700 Mongolian students at German universities every year. And I can only encourage any
Mongolian thinking about studying abroad to become part of this network and to take a
closer look at what German universities have to offer.
Thank you for your time and this interview. We wish you every success.