German FM Rules out Participation in War on Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 13, 2002

German FM Rules out Participation in War on Iraq

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German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher reiterated in Madrid on Monday that his country would not take part in any military action against Iraq, while urging Baghdad to fully implement the latest UN resolution on arms inspections.

"Our policy has not changed," said Fischer, who is accompanying German President Johannes Rau on a three-day state visit to Spain."Germany will not take part in any military attack on Iraq."

Fischer agreed with his Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio that the new UN resolution, unanimously endorsed last Friday by the UN Security Council, left little room for maneuver on Iraq's part.

The German foreign minister hoped that Iraq would "avoid military action" by observing the resolution and allowing the UN weapons inspectors to operate freely.

Earlier this year, Washington was at loggerheads with Germany because of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's outspoken opposition to a possible US-led war on Iraq.

Fischer and Palacio told reporters that during their meeting, they also discussed bilateral ties, illegal immigration, the fight against terrorism, the expansion of the European Union, as well as their upcoming role in the UN as non-permanent members of the Security Council.

Rau's visit to Spain is the first by a German head of state since the reunification of Germany in 1990.

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