,,Special staff"for Iraq
BERLIN The German government is taking steps to assure its influence in Iraq after the expected occupation by the USA and its allies. Berlin seeks to diminish the militarily achieved advantage of the United States by the political superiority of those states which opposed the war but it does not renounce the use of its own military forces. The German Foreign Office has already set up its own ,,Sonderstab Irak"(Special Staff Iraq), working out the German concepts for the reconstruction of Iraq. The participation of the Bundeswehr in a UN peace-keeping force is also being prepared, according to the press.
Chancellor Schroeder announced the German position two hours after the beginning of hostilities. He said that the UN and Security Council must play a central role in the post war ordering of Iraq. That would enable Berlin ,,the possibility of playing a leading role in a post war political order". Foreign Minister Fischer enlarged on the indispensibility of the UN. ,,There are those must come to acknowledge it although they are presently of the opinion that war is now the correct means". Those opposed to war should ,,concentrate all efforts on strengthening the international order and creating a 'Friedensordnung' (Peace Order) worthy of the name". They could count on further support against the USA. The ,,positive effect on the Muslim Arab world"of the millions-strong protest in Europe against the Iraq policy of the USA should not be under-estimated. It made clear that the war was ,,not a war by the West".
A ,,robust mandate"for the UN
Shortly after the war started Berlin chalked up its first victory at the special session of the NATO Council. The United States' attempt to create a ,,coalition of the willing"for the reconstruction of Iraq ran up against resistance from all 18 partners. This is believed to be a matter for the internationally legitimate UN on its own. At their summit meeting of 20 March the EU states followed the Berlin line. The EU would ,,strengthen its dialogue with the Arab world"with regard to the war in Iraq ,,and take active steps to secure stability in the region". The New Order of post war Iraq must be the responsibility of the UN which should receive a ,,robust mandate"from the Security Council for this purpose. This code for a military mandate is aimed directly against the plans for a US military administration in occupied Iraq.
Similar controversies over the division of influence in Iraq have already broken out in the Security Council. The German press reports that experts of the Council were working ,,under German leadership"on a further resolution on Iraq. The US plans for a military administration were placed in question by the German delegation because they were incompatible with a ,,creative role"for the UN. The UN did not wish ,,to legitimate the occupying power or be subject to it", said an EU diplomat.
A role for the Bundeswehr
In the meantime the Foreign Office had set up ,,Sonderstab Irak"to elaborate the German conncepts for ,,the reconstruction of Iraq". The German press reports that preparations are in hand for ,,substantial"participation by the Bundeswehr in a UN peace-keeping force. The Federal Agency for External Economy (BFAI), which supports German executives who are active in the region, has already studied Iraq's growth potential after the war and estimates that it is ,,highly significant". With 23 million inhabitants and a well educated work force, which was mostly occupied in repair work and aid supplies during the sanctions period, Iraq has a highly favourable outlook for development.
The German press reports that there are chances for a possible compromise with the USA over the post war development plan. It is reported that Berlin wants to use ,,billions of aid"to buy its way back into a reasonable relationship with the USA. Three weks ago the US State Department announced the first model for the division of ,,aid for reconstruction"and Chancellor Schroeder took this signal as an opportunity to restore dialogue. Secretary of State Powell has already announced that there will be opportunities in reconstruction for all who wish to take part. This could be interpreted as an invitation to countries such as France and Germany.
Sources:
EU Summit. Aid for the Arab World Spiegel online 20/3/03
Reistance in Brussels. NATO will not participate in Iraqi reconstruction. Die Welt 21/3/03
Fischer emphasises UN role in cisis administration. Frankfurter Rundschau 21/3/03
New Chance for the Club of Peoples. Sueddeutscher Zeitung 21/3/03
Ice Age Europe. Die Welt. 22/3/03
Aid as soon as possible. UN Security Council debates support for Iraqis and distances itself from US. Tagesspiegel 22/3/03
Reparation. Frankfurter Allgemeiner Sonntagszeitung 23/3/03
Thierse: Germany should help Iraq's reconstruction. Die Welt 24/3/03
Foreign Ministry forms Special Staff for Iraq. Frankfurter Rundschau 24/3/03