Germany wants a U.N. vote before Iraq war
From the International Desk
Published 1/14/2003 1:43 PM
upi.com
BERLIN, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Tuesday said Germany would call for another U.N. Security Council resolution before any military strike on Iraq.
Addressing a news conference in Berlin, Schroeder said Germany would work with its allies in the 15-member Security Council to try to get a second vote before any military action against Iraq was launched.
"It is likely that the European partners and also others will work toward a second decision and I also think that is sensible," he said.
Germany joined the U.N. Security Council a few days ago as one its non-permanent members, and Schroeder's opposition to the war on Iraq is well known.
He reiterated that position Tuesday, saying Germany would make "unmistakably" clear to the Security Council its opposition to war and its unwillingness to participate. So far, Schroeder has not made it known whether Germany would vote for or against military action in the event of the Security Council seeking another vote.
Urging Iraq to comply with U.N. Resolution 1441 to avoid a conflict, he said if another decision were taken, Germany will make its basic position clear: "It will not take part in a war."
Germany is attempting to bring the European nations together to form a common position on Iraq. Berlin hopes that excepting Britain, which is unlikely to accept the German position, other European countries could be influenced.
Schroeder is scheduled to meet French President Jacques Chirac later during the day for regular talks. He said Germany and France would work very closely with each other on the issue.
France is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council that have veto power. The others are the United States, Russia, China and Britain.
Schroeder's anti-war stance is popular among Germans and is believed to have helped his ruling Social Democrat-led coalition win the parliamentary election albeit with a narrow margin. But since then, Germany has agreed to allow U.S. and NATO forces to use its bases in the event of a war.
Riding the popular wave, the 58-year-old Schroeder indicated at the news conference he might consider running for the post for a third time. Four years ago, he had said he would not like to go beyond two terms. But on Tuesday, he said he had not decided about the third. He will remain chancellor until 2006.
"If the opposition annoys me a lot then I will punish them by running again," Schroeder said.
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(Reported by Ravi R. Prasad in Cologne, Germany.)
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