INTERVIEW WITH JOSCHKA FISCHER
GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN MINISTER

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

September 27, 2002

Excerpts

Question: (...) Is there going to be a war in Iraq?

Answer: I hope not. That is a question which, in all seriousness, I cannot answer at this stage. We must take the current developments very seriously. Much will depend on whether the Security Council manages to agree on a resolution. What that resolution will look like, I cannot say at this moment in time ...

Question: (...) Let's assume there is agreement on a resolution in one or two stages, which as a last resort authorizes military action - action, that is, under a UN mandate. Will you still be able to maintain the German position?

Answer: I will not indulge here in speculation. But there is one thing I can tell you very plainly: on this issue the Federal Chancellor and I have taken a clear stand. That was one of the core pledges we gave before the elections. We are not going to modify it now the elections are over ...

Question: In February Germany will assume the presidency of the Security Council. In February there may also be war in Iraq ... In that case Germany will find itself at the centre of the conflict.

Answer: We will not be at the centre of the conflict, we will be working to bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, a military operation aimed at overthrowing the current regime in Baghdad would have repercussions throughout the region, which we believe would be impossible to predict with any certainty ...

Question: Is the following course of action conceivable: While sticking to your position on German non-participation, you offer to provide, once the military conflict is over, German blue-helmets, assistance with reconstruction or the like?

Answer: I see no merit in any such idea. In this connection a leading daily paper came up with something based on a misleading comment that it completely overinterpreted, wrongly interpreted – in the NEW YORK TIMES it was – which I cannot go along with at all. The point is not that we should offer something. Something is either right in our view or it is not right ... We have alliance obligations, of that there is no doubt, obligations also of a political and moral nature. Our principal partner has been attacked. And that is why we are firmly committed to our international alliances ... But I see no merit in this notion of so-called substitute contributions. That is not the way I see the situation ... I want to make sure things do not come to such a pass. I want to make sure there is no war. I want to make sure this war is prevented by full compliance with the relevant resolutions on the part of the regime in Baghdad.

Question: And if it fails to comply?

Answer: Then the situation is that our position is clear, we will not participate in a military operation. But I hope such a situation can be avoided.

Question: We are now hearing rather more conciliatory tones (from the US) from Ari Fleischer (White House spokesman) and also Colin Powell (US Secretary of State) as far as Germany is concerned. All the same: was it not playing with fire during the election campaign to let our relations reach such a low point?

Answer: I am afraid I cannot see that they have reached such a low point or that anyone has been playing with fire. Let me simply point out, too, that people are very fond of suggesting that election campaigns are a matter of rather minor importance in a democracy. Yet the whole purpose of elections is to obtain the support of the voters ... In the US, too, there is an election campaign under way. I do not mean that in a negative sense. For me that is a very important aspect of democratic life ... That such connections exist - now and in the past - demonstrates the closeness of the bonds between our democracies. Our relations are strong, they are good. The irritations that have occurred I greatly regret - Frau Däubler-Gmelin says that she was misreported - but if simply on account of the way she was interpreted the impression was created that the US President was cited in connection with a man like Hitler guilty of the most atrocious crimes against humanity, then that is of course profoundly to be regretted and should be condemned. The United States liberated us from National Socialism - not single-handedly but it clearly played an absolutely decisive role ... It helped build democracy in West Germany and defended Berlin during the Cold War. And the father of the present incumbent as well as the then Secretary of State Baker and his aides were instrumental in bringing about German reunification so quickly and so soon ... That we will not forget. That is the solid foundation on which our relations - including our close cultural and personal ties and intensive economic links - are built. All that counts, all that is strong and robust. I am sure the irritations will be dealt with and overcome.