Joschka Fischer: Iraq is not a test of solidarity for anti-terrorism

The German foreign minister Joschka Fischer said that the current controversy on a likely American intervention in Iraq does not constitute a test for the solidarity of the "international alliance against terrorism."

In a statements to two German papers, the German minister said that the recent statements made by the US President George Bush in which he stressed that the US takes into account views of its friends and allies in its ideas regarding an action against Baghdad constitutes "a very good indicator." Fischer renewed his country's rejection to a military intervention in Iraq, warning against "unpredictable results" that might result from a decision of that sort.

Fischer said "at the meantime, we do not see any new analysis indicating that there are mass destruction weapons in Iraq." He said that the decisive point in the question of Iraq is to know the extent of our readiness "to stay one or several years in order to rebuild this country." In statements to the same paper, the German defense minister Peter Struck said the current military scenarios do not take into account the political results of a military intervention in Iraq "especially the question of Saddam's succession." Worthy mentioning that Germany has been witnessing an increasing rejection to an attack against Iraq. Members of the alliance government, socialists or democrats as well as environment protection advocates warn Washington against any "irresponsible action" and rule out a German participation in any action of this sort.