♪ >> hello and welcome to "european journal -- the "journal www.dw.de >> the leader signed a new treaty aimed at repeating the eurozone debt crisis. and reports of reprisals and executions as syrian government troops over run parts of homs. >> election day in iran. the people vote as their leaders tussle for power. >> we really mean it this time -- that seems to be the message from europe's leaders today as they signed a new fiscal pact

to clamp down on government borrowing. >> previous rules were never seriously enforced and ended up being broken 60 times over the past decade. angela merkel says that was the root cause of the eurozone debt crisis. >> today, she held the new pact as a milestone in the history of the european union. >> the 17 countries who share the euro as their common currency committed to far tighter spending rules. germann important step forward for europe. >> for the first time, we have agreed to truly implement the stability and growth pact. by making the european court of justice responsible for making sure that the limits are being properly adhered to. >> it means less controlled by countries over their budgets. they can no longer spend their way out of recessions, but the

eu president says it means more growth in the future. >> the restoration of confidence in the future of the eurozone will lead to economic growth and jobs. this is our ultimate objective. >> two members refused to sign up -- britain and the czech republic -- but they are not in the eurozone. the commission president called the pact a step toward integration. >> the signature of the treaty by 25 out of the current 27 member states is also a very relevant political statement on the euro as the currency of our union. >> but critics remain unconvinced that austerity is the way out of europe's economic problems. >> for all those doubts, that new fiscal pact is being called a milestone, but how confident are european leaders that it will really make a difference? i put that question to our correspondent in brussels. >> they sounded very confident indeed.

chancellor angela merkel was saying that the fiscal compact was a clear signal that europe is learning from the crisis, drawing its conclusions, and trying to move towards a future of a politically united europe. the bottom line is we want to avoid by any means that a crisis like the current one will ever repeat itself, and with the fiscal compact will make sure is that countries will have debt limits in their constitutions, and that is a first start. >> the summit going on in brussels has been mainly focused on growth. have we heard what kind of progress is being made there? >> the fiscal compact angela merkel was saying is only the starting point, if you will. the core element of what needs to happen because they want to get europe back on track, that jobs will be created, that europe gets back on track towards growth. angela merkel made clear that what was important now was that the eu leaders also made sure that they were using that time that they have now at their

disposal because they have all the words now -- that is something the prime minister cameron said -- they have all the words now, but they need action. they are implementing some targets, but they are saying they need to be in the internal market and make europe an area where there is credibility and this is also being received on the markets. >> briefly, the summary of the summit seems to be that it was being very harmonious, but they are kidding themselves if they think the crisis has really gone away, aren't they? >> nobody is saying that the crisis has gone away, but everybody has been saying this is the first non-crisis summit in over a year, and that is at least something. >> thanks a lot. there is finally some hope of relief for the people of homs. an aid convoy has entered the syrian city after a 26-day siege that has left some areas in ruins. >> the beer is it comes much too late for many victims.

the international committee of the red cross only got permission to enter after government troops overran the city on thursday. >> rebels have fled the district that had long been a stronghold throughout the siege. the opposition has warned of a massacre taking place. >> this is the aftermath of fighting between rebels and the syrian army. the ruins in the north of the country. we asked the international community and the humanitarian organizations to protect us from assad's criminal gangs. here is a shell that he sent to the children after attacking schools and buildings. government forces are also coming the neighborhood looking for rebels still resisting. rebel commanders say their fighters had left the city after running out of weapons and ammunition. the first convoy of vehicles from the international red cross and syria and red crescent has

reached the city. the trucks are carrying supplies, including food and medicine. >> this is in terms of access to food, access to water, but mainly also and especially needs to be evacuated in terms of people are injured and people who are sick. this is why we should be there as soon as possible. >> the international community is still trying to agree on what should be done about the violence after russia vetoed two resolutions. moscow says resolution cannot be achieved by favoring one side. "if all you do is apply the opposition with weapons and pressure assad, they will never have a reason to come to the negotiating table. mike understanding is that assad is ready for talks." france now says it plans to close its damascus embassy in protest of government-sponsored violence. united nations secretary general is due to brief the general assembly on the current situation in syria.

>> two french journalists who were trapped in that district have managed to leave syria. they have now crossed the border into lebanon and a back in france soon. french president sarkozy made the announcement on the sidelines of brussels. one was with it last week in a rocket attack that killed an american-born journalist. >> the people of iran are going to the polls today to elect a new parliament, but opposition groups say voters are not getting a free choice and are calling for a boycott on the planned protest of the dissension and many of their leaders. >> voters are left to pick between two hard-line conservative camps, groupings involved in a power struggle right at the top of the tehran regime. iran's state television showed long lines of voters at the

polling stations. the government is hoping for a strong turnout, which would signal broad popular support for the country's clerical establishment. "i am is citizen of this country, and i want to vote. the fate of my country is very important to me. it is my duty to be here today. all iranians should care about what happens to their country." there are no real opposition parties in iran, so the election is essentially a popularity contest between two conservative factions. groups use to the united but split after the 2009 presidential vote. one conservative group is led by the current president, ahmadinejad. he has fallen out with the leader of the other faction, iran pose a supreme leader, who has the final say on all matters of state. analysts will be looking for insights from the polling results. as the factions jockey for position in presidential elections next year.

>> we can go straight across to tehran. thanks for joining us, martin. we saw in that report that the regime is keen to emphasize high turnout. how important is turnout? >> the turnout of this parliamentary election as one of the most important questions. officially, they speak about a high turnout. you showed it in the report. on the other hand, we saw in the morning some polling stations with only a handful of voters in front. the opposition called the supporters to stay home, close their shops, and not to go to the polling station. the turnout of 50% or less shows a regime that they have no back up in the population. in former times, the regime had a great back up in the population and a lot of supporters. the final results of the winner of the election we should see it for monday evening. >> what of the chances that this election could really change anything in iran? >> the election in fact is a direct flight between the

president and the supreme leader. there are a lot of experts that they made a prediction that the supreme leaders camp will win. this happens, this of the the first set of losing power, a downgrading of ahmadinejad that we will see not a major change in iran because the supreme leader argued against israel, and declared many times that iran has the right to use nuclear energy. >> ok, so this could have big consequences for ahmadinejad. what about the opposition, though? they are boycotting this poll. how weak and are they? >> the opposition does not exist at the moment at all. the green movement is forbidden. the leaders are under house arrest.

the reformists, supporters of the former president -- they did not take part because of some rules he said before like freedom of the press, freedom of political prisoners, police state, let's show of force, when it comes to legal political rallies. >> thank you very much for joining us from tehran. >> in the world of business, oil prices have retreated after spiking to a four-year high on thursday to $110 a barrel in new york. in response to reports of a pipeline explosion in saudi arabia, officials issued a statement denying the report, but prices remain much higher than last month on fears of possible military confrontation in the gulf surrounding concerns about iran. for more, let's bring in our correspondent who is standing by on the floor of the frankfurt stock exchange. when we see a spike in oil like this, it typically has a big impact on stocks. has that been the case today? >> it is a little burden for the

stock market today because the higher oil price is bad news for consumers. on the other side, the huge cash injection from the ecb of this week is good for the markets, but it also has an effect on the oil price because it triggers demand for riskier assets, and a lot of the money goes into the oil market. meanwhile, oil prices also fuelling inflation. this is a real dilemma. >> a lot of the money, and bonds went right back to the european central bank. that is usually a sign of nervousness, isn't it? >> it is right, and it looks cash injection, it is the safest place. also, banks cannot distribute this huge amount within a few days. what is driving on the market is bad news from spain. they had a higher deficit.

the dax is down almost 15%. your stocks 50 also under pressure. >> thanks. germany has accused the leadership of french and german aerospace giant eads up favoring french interests. berlin criticized the decision to concentrate research and development expertise in france, st. german sites were being neglected. germany also wants the company to appoint an equal number of german and french executives. anders is known to dislike political interference with the running of the company. >> it is time to take a look at some of the other stories that are making news around the world. >> senior chinese officials say 2/3 of the country's cities are failing to meet new air quality targets. the government issue the standards this week in response to high pollution levels. it limits come into force in 2016 and of old world health

organization recommendations. >> at least 33 people have been killed in pakistan in the militant attack on positions in the country's volatile northwest. military officials said at least 10 soldiers and 23 militants died in the clash in the cover region. government forces have been fighting insurgents' four years in that mountainous area. and north korea has lashed out at south korea just two days after announcing it was suspending its nuclear program. a foreign ministry official called this week's annual joint u.s. south korean military exercises a provocation. state tv says the country will continue to fight a sacred war against the south. we will be right back in a minute's time. we will be taking a closer look at that election happening today in iran. >> stay with us.

>> business brief -- news from the world of business. all the latest figures from the international financial markets. everything you need to know about world trade, currencies, and market prices. business brief -- monday through saturday on dw. >> welcome back.

let's take a closer look now at today's election in iran and what it could mean for the country. while the voters do not have a chance to choose reformist candidates, they do seem to be getting a chance to weigh in on a very big power struggle. >> that is right. we heard it about -- we heard about it earlier. a question is -- how much does it really matter to ordinary iranians who are worried about a chronically weak economy? >> 3500 candidates are valid for 290 parliamentary seats. it sounds like voters are spoiled for choice, but they are not. almost all of the candidates are from rival conservative groups aligned with the political establishment. young people in particular are disillusioned by the lack of alternatives. "people like me will not influence the outcome of the election. i do not want to vote for any of the candidates.

there is no one who can speak for me in parliament." >> i'm not adjusted in the election. i voted in the presidential election in 2009, but i'm not voting this time. >> it was after that election that hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demand political change. today, many regime critics are in jail. their leaders are under house arrest. the voice of the opposition has been silenced. "the president of the supreme leader -- this election is about who holds the balance of power." ahmadinejad is under pressure from political rivals, especially over his handling of the economy. he hopes the election will bolster his support in parliament and at the same time strengthen his position against ayatollah ali khamenei. iran's supreme leader sees

ahmadinejad as trying to reduce the influence of the ruling clerics. they have the final say in almost all political decisions. to keep it that way, the guardian council will that its power long before voting began, letting candidate -- vetting candidates and barring some established loyalists, forcing him to pick younger political unknowns. the power struggle could intensify after the parliamentary elections. lawmakers have summoned ahmadinejad to answer questions on his handling of the economy, a process that could end in his impeachment. whatever iran's new parliament looks like, it is unlikely to represent the will of the people. >> the will of the people was heard in geneva when you're ago when it became the first nation to topple its government and set off the wave of arab spring of presence. now the countries trying to come to terms with its past, and it is turning to germany for some help. >> to nations hope to learn from

germany's experience dealing with its former dictatorship in the country's east. on a visit to germany, some two nations were able to see a former prison in berlin. -- some two nations -- some tunisians were able to see a former prison in berlin. >> it is here that the group of human rights activists and historians have come. they want to see how germany deals with the legacy of the east german dictatorship. the prison makes an immediate impact on the visitors. >> it is shocking to see how barbaric the regime was. they kept people locked up in truly inhumane conditions. >> he is no stranger to prison cells and interrogation rooms. she defended political prisoners in tunisia and campaigned

against torture. it was commonplace in jails under the old regime. the interior ministry was once as feared as the berlin stasi prison. >> the ministry should be turned into a memorial and museum so visitors can learn about the suffering of the tunisian people. >> the group also got the chance to meet a former political prisoner. he detailed his experiences locked up in east germany. the head of the morel also provided advice on how to uneasy a good deal with its legacy of dictatorship. "keep the prisons that still exist in the condition they were in during the dictatorship or compensate the victims now and not in 20 years' time when they are no longer living." those are the kinds of things that we can advise them to do

from our experience. come to terms with the brutality of dictatorship, the group from tunisia city visit to berlin will help ensure that the lessons of the past are not forgotten by future generations. >> today, germans and americans are also marking a moment in the past. 60 years ago at the height of the cold war, u.s. troops began pouring into an area which is now known as ramstein airbase. >> since then, it has become a major hub for the u.s. military and has employed thousands of germans. >> the air base in western germany is optimally place for u.s. missions around the world. it was the location that spurred american military planners to set up a base here 60 years ago. at the peak of the cold war, it also included a huge nuclear arsenal. today, it remains the biggest air base outside the u.s., but it is now dealing with new threats. >> the threats we face back then were significantly different.

the big shift has been from facing a static that, ecstatic, no new threat -- you know, monolithic enemy -- to a very diverse situation where we have different enemies. >> new challenges called for new strategies. today, it is transport planes instead of fighter jets to use the base. a ferry weapons and other supplies to troops engaged in various u.s. deployments are around the world. they also bring wounded soldiers to the u.s. military hospital nearby. fallen troops are sent home through here. but one incident has permanently marked this place. in 1988, 70 people were killed in an air show accident. the u.s. military has maintained its base here for 60 years now, and as much as the pentagon needs to cut costs, it is not likely to forgo ramstein. >> several ngo workers have left egypt after authorities there

lifted a travel ban. staffing groups have been facing charges of using illegal funds and promoting protests against the military government. these groups deny the accusations, and the case has tested relations between egypt pose a military rulers and the west. >> the foundation has worked in egypt for 30 years. its work includes promoting democracyegyptian police raidede foundation's offices at the end of last year and seized files and computers. the egyptian authorities accuse the foundation of accepting funding from abroad and creating social unrest. the german foreign minister welcome to the lifting of the travel ban on the foundation's employees, but he warned the case against them is still pending. >> our ultimate aim is to get the criminal case against employees of the foundation dropped altogether. we also want the authorities to

allow the foundation and all the other foundations and ngo's affected to restart their valuable work in egypt and be able to act without hindrance is in the future. >> the trial of 43 employees of foundations and ngo,'s began on sunday, but the foundation workers and others accused no longer face prison sentences. the charges have been reduced to minor offenses. >> all right, change of pace now. soccer in germany is about to get into a figurehead. the german football association has convened to elect a new president. on the left in this picture, he takes over for the previous position holder who serve for eight years. he's a former sports reporter and press officer to the 1990 world cup winning team. the association is considered the biggest sports club in the

world with almost 7 million members. titus john to sign the studio to talk about this. 7 million members -- quite a big club there. what kind of situation is the man inheriting? >> he could not really becoming a to a better situation. german football is really in rude health. the national team is in great form. its loss this week notwithstanding, and most important, they have great management in place. germany's youth development, and as we heard in the report, they just hosted two fantastic world cups so the new president's job will be to consolidate the situation and hopefully kick things off with a german when at the european championships. >> how is he likely differ from his predecessor? >> i think it will be quite a welcome change of style. although things have been successful on the pitch, he sometimes got criticized for being very big on rhetoric, the

autocratic, and certainly too cozy with the tabloid press. his replacement is perhaps not as charismatic but is more consensual, very well connected in the game from his time in the press, and he is really considered a sick parent hands for this moment. >> what kind of direction could you expect him to take the club in now? -- a safe pair of hands. >> his decisions will be on the museum, whether or not they want to found a national performance center. in the long term, though, things will get interesting because in 2015, he will take over at fifa. that will be after the world cup. the sort of role of football governance then will be very much in the headlines, and it is how the new president brings germany's influence to bear in a situation that could really be his lasting legacy. >> an immediate challenge up

ahead. euro 2012. what is the outlook there? >> as we said, germany lost this week to france, but they still look like one of the favorites for the competition. >> thanks very much for joining us in the studio. that is all we have time for now, but we will have more news at the top of the hour, so stay with us. and i keep it here. -- >> keep it here. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--