GERMANY: Germany has not ruled out voting in favour of UN-backed military action against Iraq as it joined the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member yesterday.
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said it was too early to make such a decision but restated that Germany would not actively participate in any war on Iraq.
"There can be no question of any change in the German position," said Mr Schröder yesterday on a visit to China. "It is completely obvious that you only determine how you will vote in a body when you know the conditions." His comments echo those of the German foreign minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, who prompted speculation of a change in the German position after he declined to say whether Germany would try to prevent a war in Iraq through its Security Council membership.
"No one can predict that, because no one knows under which circumstances the Security Council will address," he told Der Spiegel magazine.
Mr Schröder and Mr Fischer have denied that their obligations as a member of the security council will put them at odds with the "no war with Iraq" promise made to German voters before last September's general election.
The opposition to war, shared by an overwhelming majority of Germans, gave the government a crucial last-minute boost and tipped the election in their favour, but seriously damaged relations with Washington. Since election day, the government has tried to repair relations with Washington and said it is prepared to support NATO partners in an Iraq war, making available its airspace and airbases.
German troops will guard US military bases if necessary and German troops will be allowed fly in special reconnaissance planes if they are participating in defensive manoeuvres.
However, the promises of non-military assistance have annoyed members of the pacifist wing of the Green Party, the junior coalition partners.
"Our position hasn't changed. We have always made clear that we will not send any soldiers," said Mr Fischer. "Nevertheless we stand beside the U.S. in the alliance against terrorism and have an essential interest that this alliance continues."
