"She Was A Little Early": German Envoy On Protocol Row Over Minister Visit

Amid the protocol-related controversy on social media, the German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, yesterday said the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's plane landed early in Delhi.

She was asked to stay on the plane for a while but decided to leave without receiving a line, which was entirely a German problem, Mr Ackermann told ANI, adding that the Indian protocol was outstanding.

Further, on the row over social media posts alleging some protocol issue with the German Foreign minister, Mr Ackermann, who is also the Germany envoy to Bhutan, clarified that the minister's plane landed a little early in Delhi, adding that she was, in fact, one of the first ministers to land in the national capital on Thursday for the G20 Foreign ministers' meeting.

"We had to transfer her to the conference centre and she was a little early so the German authorities asked her to wait on the plane for a while," the German ambassador informed, adding that she agreed to stay in the aircraft.

"She had some breakfast and then spontaneously decided to leave the plane without the receiving line being formed. But that was an entire German problem," the German ambassador said.

"It has nothing to do with Indian protocol. I can only say again and again the Indian protocol has done outstanding work this week. It is really, really more than anything I've seen in a protocol in my life. And they did that very graciously. Fantastically," he said.

"The minister came out of the plane. You've seen it on the little video on social media, she laughed, she had a great time, she thought to herself it was quite funny and we had a very nice welcome. And she's not a very pretentious person, so she had no problem with this little mishap," the envoy added.

"That was an entire German mishap and has nothing to do with Indian protocol," he said.

"Under the current circumstances, G20 is a difficult business and I don't envy any president but can say that the Indian side did that masterfully. It was a fantastically organised and set-up conference. Everybody was happy with the context. My minister had a couple of very good bilaterals on the side and when she left, she was very, very happy. And at Raisina Dialogue, a couple of German parliamentarians came and what I get from their impressions is that Raisina after the G20 was again a great success," Mr Ackermann told ANI.

"So kudos to the Indian side, kudos to Indian protocol. First and foremost because they did a fantastic job in hospitality," the German envoy said, praising the organisation and conduct of the Foreign ministers' meeting, other G20 events and the 8th edition of the Raisina Dialogue.

Further, on the Raisina Dialogue, he said that while everyone had a very hectic week, the Indian friends had a ten times more hectic week.

He said that the Indian side did "outstanding" work on every level.

"The German Chancellor had an excellent visit and we are highly satisfied. The Chancellor left India after a day in Delhi and a day in Bengaluru with the best feelings and the best impressions and I think the purpose of the visit was completely fulfilled," he added.

In Bengaluru, the German Chancellor visited industries, both Indian and German, while also interacting with skilled labourers who were about to leave for Germany, he informed.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Ackermann said, "The Prime Minister was, as expected, a very gracious host. We had a fantastic bilateral meeting with him," he added.

"The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a round and very comprehensive impression of what was going on in India. So, the chancellor's visit was a great success," the envoy said.