Iraq Conflict Sparks Terror Fears in Germany

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has disclosed fears of a resurgence of international terrorism as a result of a war in Iraq.

Speaking at a Green Party rally in Berlin on Saturday, he said a resurgence of international terror could cause a turmoil in the Middle East which would also threaten Europe. "The central question is: 'Will international terrorism be weakened or unintentionally strengthened through a military strike?'," Fischer told members of the Green party. "And what does that mean for not only the stability of the region but also our security?"

Calling for Saddam Hussein to cooperate fully with U.N. arms inspectors, Fischer reiterated Germany's anti-war stance in the Iraq conflict, saying Germany remained opposed to a war while the inspectors made progress in the disarming of Iraq.

The U.N. inspectors work had never been so effective and that there was no reason to interrupt these efforts with a military strike, forcing Baghdad to disarm as the Security Council has demanded, he said. "We want a system of disarmament, but one that is based on non-military intervention."

Concerns over Germany

Germany, which is on the U.N. Security Council as a non-permanent member, thus not wielding a veto, has led European opposition to a U.S.-led war in Iraq ever since Chancellor Gerhard Schröder refused German involvement in a military attack in Iraq during last September's federal election campaign. Since then, the chancellor has repeated that Germany will not, under any circumstances, vote to support a U.N. resolution authorizing war.

Germany's position in the conflict was reason for further concern in Washington, voiced by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (photo) in an interview with the Bild newspaper on Saturday. "If terrorists got hold of these weapons, then they could turn up in Germany." Brushing aside Fischer's hopes for the inspectors, Powell said the inspectors were not detectives, following British Foreign Minister Jack Straw who also said in the magazine Focus magazine this weekend that the inspectors were not "a detective agency."

"It's absurd to believe 300 or 3,000 inspectors could search a country the size of France and detect substances that could be produced in a living room," he said.

Striking a more conciliatory tone, Powell expressed hopes for a peaceful solution to the conflict: "The United States doesn't want a war. Germany doesn't want a war. A war can easily be avoided: Iraq must disarm." On the troubled transatlantic relationship, he called Germany a "friend" of the United States, and said he had "warm feelings for Germany."

Call for common solution

Speaking a week after thousands of people took part in the largest peace rally in post-war German history in Berlin, Fischer emphasized the importance of finding a solution with the U.S. "The regime in Baghdad has to know that it is of decisive importance they meet all the demands of the inspectors as quickly as possible."

"It has to be understood in Baghdad that the only way to ensure the option of a peaceful solution is to completely fulfill the U.N. Security Council resolutions and the accompanying demands of the inspectors."

Chief U.N. arms inspector Blix has now ordered Baghdad to start destroying all of its liquid-fuelled Al-Samoud 2 missiles, whose range exceed U.N. limits, within a week. Iraq now has until March 1 to make evident progress in its missile disarmament.