Germany won't block 'war as last resort' on Iraq
national |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Monday February 17, 2003 17:51
by germs
thanks Germany :-(
Germany won't block "war as last resort" on Iraq
BRUSSELS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Monday Germany would not block a common European Union position recognising that military action could be a last resort if Iraq failed to disarm.
Britain and Spain have demanded that an emergency EU summit on Iraq in Brussels include in any common position on Iraq an acknowledgement that military action cannot be ruled out.
Germany has repeatedly said it opposes war and will not sanction any new U.N. resolution legitimising the use of force, but a joint declaration it made with France and Russia last week noted military action could not be ruled out.
Asked whether Berlin would mention of the use of force could prevent a common EU stance, Fischer said: "We are not standing in the way of a compromise. But I think that is the wrong discussion. The question is what must we do so that we do not come to the use of military means."