Kohler said he would be the President of all Germans

By Khaled Schmitt, IOL Correspondent

BERLIN , May 24 (IslamOnline.net) – A few hours after his election, Horst Kohler, the new German President, confirmed the importance of holding dialogue with Islam and Muslims, not to let them feel "a crusade is launched against them."

Kohler, however, stressed the need to tightening the nose around what he called 'extremists'.

Kohler made the statements during an interview with German television’s Channel Two (ZDF).

"I came to the post as a President for all Germans and residents of German lands," he said.

Kohler also confirmed the importance of interaction with Islam and the Islamic world, pointing out that Muslims form an important part of the world. Muslims' culture and religion should be respected, not to feel that they are subjected to a crusade or discrimination.

On the other hand, Kohler highlighted the necessity of cornering what he termed 'extremist and fundamentalist Muslims'. He also rejected the concept of a group of Muslims in Germany who "celebrates the anniversary of September 11," a reference to the attacks on New York and Washington in 2001.

Call For Innovation

Meanwhile, in a speech after his election, the ninth postwar German President said he wanted to encourage Germany to regain its status as a country of innovation and ideas.

"For me, Germany has been too slow on its path to a knowledge society," said the 61-year-old Kohler.

The former head of the International Monetary Fund IMF, was elected Germany 's new President Sunday, May 23.

Kohler was nominated by the opposition conservative Christian Democratic Union , its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union and the liberal Free Democratic Party.

He won the Presidency in the first round of voting in Germany 's Federal Assembly, made up of the 602 Bundestag members and 605 representatives from the federal states, garnering 604 votes compared to 589 for his opponent, university President Gesine Schwan.

Schwan, the candidate of the ruling party hoped to be the European country's first ever female President.

Kohler succeeds Johannes Rau, whose Presidential term ends at the end of June 2004.

Rau was known for many positive situations towards Muslims in Germany as well as different issues related to Islamic world.

Rau said earlier on December 28 that Muslims in Germany should not be treated as second-class citizens, asserting that they have become part and parcel of the German society.

The Presidential post in Germany is largely a ceremonial one, entailing little, if any, executive powers, unlike the post of Chancellor.