20 Mar 2012

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle: Germany opposes military intervention in Syria

Berlin is against military intervention in Syria, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in an interview with Interfax ahead of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Germany, Russia and Poland in Berlin on March 21

"From Germany‘s point of view, discussions of a military option are counterproductive. As a matter of fact, such options are not being discussed by NATO either," he said.
At the same time, "the daily violence used by the regime of Bashar al-Assad against its own people is unacceptable," he said.
"A Syria led by al-Assad can no longer have a good future, this is the clear position of the overwhelming majority of members of the global community," said Germany‘s top diplomat. "This is why, both within and outside the United Nations, we have been calling for three goals to be attained: firstly, for the end of violence; secondly, for humanitarian aid to people; and thirdly, for a new political start in Syria," he said.
The minister believes also that Russia and NATO could reach an agreement on missile defense.
Westerwelle so commented on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev‘s statement on measures that Russia will take in response to the deployment of U.S.‘ and NATO‘s missile defenses in Europe, among these measures being the deployment of Iskander missile systems in the Kaliningrad region.
Westerwelle insisted that security is indivisible, and European security is possible only together with Russia, and Russia‘s security is possible only together with Europe.
Asked whether Berlin has concerns that Russia could reduce or suspend transit of NATO cargo through its territory to Afghanistan if the missile defense plans are implemented, Westerwelle noted that both NATO and Russia are interested in stability in Afghanistan and will certainly continue working together on this.