SPEECH BY JOSCHKA FISCHER
GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN MINISTER

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

December 4, 2002

Excerpts

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On Iraq

We have a different opinion on Iraq (...) than parts of the American Administration and the American Congress. I have told you why on many occasions. What is decisive is the question: Is the US really ready for military action against Saddam Hussein? Our position is clear. We said before the elections that we will not take part in any military action, we will not contribute troops. That is also what we are saying after the elections. To my mind, the reasons haven't changed - this is a viewpoint I have made clear time and again both in Washington and in talks with American visitors here in Berlin - because for me the regional risk is and remains the decisive problem. The pivotal question is whether such an action will actually strengthen or weaken us in the fight against international terrorism - and that is what I see as the main challenge and the main danger. We are deeply concerned that it will weaken us and thus we reject such a move. I would like to know what is anti-American about that.

This also has to be considered against the backdrop of our decisions on the fight against terrorism after 11 September. Here we have nothing, absolutely nothing, to retract. We are demonstrating full solidarity and standing by our commitment with our contributions in the Balkans.

No, we obviously have a different perception of alliance, as Jean-Claude Juncker also said yesterday in a discussion in Brussels. An alliance does not mean always being at the back and call of others, rather when we have a different opinion we have to reach agreement as democrats and democracies, even if it would sometimes be easier to simply say yes to everything.

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