GERMANY: German foreign minister Joschka Fischer employed a mixture of humble pie and angry finger-wagging yesterday to deflect criticism that he failed to stop widespread abuse of visas in Germany embassies.
Mr Fischer endured a gruelling grilling from a parliamentary inquiry over whether new simplified visa rules introduced five years ago and abolished three years later allowed thousands of people from Ukraine, Albania and Belarus into Germany posing as tourists.
"The responsibility lies with me, write it down: 'Fischer was to blame'," said Mr Fischer. "I saw the situation in Kiev just as a question of resources. I should have reacted quicker and intervened sooner."
He argued that the visa liberalisation policy was correct in theory if not in execution. He rejected the claim that the majority of visa applications were from organised gangs of traffickers who were abusing the reformed rules to smuggle prostitutes and illegal workers into the country.
Mr Fischer contradicted opposition suggestions that he had received reports about the alleged visa abuse, but also refused several opportunities to admit mistakes made by his officials, saying he assumed all responsibility as minister.
Later, Mr Fischer seemed plagued by gaps in his memory, particularly when asked about his discussions on the visa issue with cabinet colleagues and chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
After nine hours' testimony, Mr Fischer grew more tired and more tetchy and shouted: "It's not about this at all, your real aim is to bring me down." His inquiry appearance left many questions open, but there appeared little likelihood of resignation, as demanded by the opposition, last night.