GERMANY: Berlin is on a new collision course with Washington after the new leader of Germany's Green Party, the junior coalition partner, said that providing military support to the US in the event of a war on Iraq would be unconstitutional.
Chancellor Schröder said last week that German airspace and airbases would be made available to the US and other NATO partners even if Germany kept its soldiers out of an Iraq war.
Ms Angelika Beer, the Green Party's new joint leader, contradicted the Chancellor yesterday and ruled out any support for a non-UN military strike, "passive or active".
"The Chancellor said many times before the election: 'Germany will not participate in any form in such a military action.' That is my position too," said Ms Beer. She said that, in her opinion, the constitution forbade Germany from supporting any military action not sponsored by the UN.
"If necessary, we will make this position clear at NATO," she said.
Ms Beer's comments, just hours after taking over as joint leader of the Green Party, sparked confusion in Berlin yesterday.
"It makes no sense whatsoever to concern ourselves with speculative scenarios," said Mr Béla Anda, the government spokesman. He restated that Berlin would not take an "active" role in a US-lead war on Iraq without UN mandate and that the government is confident that war is avoidable.
But Ms Beer hardened her position yesterday afternoon, saying that any action to aid a strike on Iraq, even within the terms of Germany's NATO obligations, would breach article 26 of Germany's post-war constitution which states: "Activities carried out with the intent to disturb peaceful relations between nations, especially to prepare for aggressive war, are unconstitutional." Her comments will do little to help fragile US-German relations, already under renewed strain by an unconfirmed report that the US wants prepared for action special reconnaissance aircraft stationed in Germany, with a crew that is one quarter German.
"There would be a problem" if the planes were called into action, according to a defence ministry spokesman in Berlin yesterday.
Last week the defence ministry refused a US request for special military equipment that could be used in Iraq.
Confusion over a similar shipment to Israel was discussed by Mr Schröder and President Moshe Katsav of Israel, who today ends a three-day state visit to Germany.
Israel says the equipment is for defence purposes in the case of a war in Iraq. However Berlin is concerned that the equipment requested, including troop carriers and a missile defence system, could be used against the Palestinians.
The German constitution allows the design and export of weapons designed for war only with a special permit from the federal government.
Around 40 members of the far-right National Democratic Party marched through central Berlin yesterday to protest against the visit of President Katsav. Mr Joschka Fischer, the Foreign Minister, called the march "a disgrace".
