Schröder Stands Behind His Anti-War Stance

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, the target of German and international criticism for his rejection of a possible war against Iraq, vowed on Thursday that he would not sway from his course of seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In a government declaration he made to the German parliament on Thursday morning, Schröder said, "It is possible and that is what we are fighting for."

Rejecting the course laid down by United States President George W. Bush, the chancellor said the United Nations needed to intensify its weapons inspection program in Iraq in order to avoid war. "Every conceivable possibility of avoiding war must be exhausted," the chancellor said.

Schröder spelled out his position a day before chief U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei make their second report to the U.N. Security Council. Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Washington on Thursday that he would confront Germany and another critic, France, at the United Nations on the issue of new inspections.

"The question I will put to them is: Why more inspections? And how much more time?" Powell said. "Or are you just delaying for the sake of delaying in order to get Saddam Hussein off the hook and no disarmament? That's a challenge I will put to them."

The inspection issue is one of two diplomatic questions that have split Germany and the United States, the long-time protector of West Germany and a strong supporter of German reunification in 1990. The other question involves a U.S. request to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that it should begin planning to provide military support to Turkey if the United States launched a war against Iraq and Saddam Hussein then struck his northern neighbor. Germany joined France and Belgium on Monday in vetoing the request, triggering an intense effort by NATO Secretary General George Robertson to seek a compromise. As of Thursday morning, however, Robertson had been unable to change the three countries' minds.

In his speech to the parliament, Schröder touched on both issues.

In the direction of the United States, he said Germany would not change its opposition against a possible war on Iraq. "The German government answered this question with no, and that is the way it will stay," Schröder said. He then offered one reason for his stand. Such a war "would have a devastating effect on the international fight against terrorism," he said.

In the direction of NATO, Schröder played down the alliance's disagreement over the plan to support Turkey. "If a partner is attacked, then we will come to his defense," Schröder said.

The alliance dispute is seen by others, including Roberston, as one of NATO's most serious disagreements in its 53-year history.

In hopes of reaching an agreement, Robertson has developed a compromise that is void of many elements in the original U.S. request, sources have said. The basic plan contains provisions to deploy airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that would provide surveillance, Patriot missiles that would offer air defense, and special forces that would combat biological and chemical weapons. Gone from the request are provisions to provide protection for U.S. bases in member countries and to replace American troops in the Balkans, the sources said.

After Schröder finished his speech, the leader of Germany's biggest opposition party outlined a position that contrasted with Schröder's, saying her party could not rule out the need for a war against Iraq.

Angela Merkel, who leads the Christian Democratic Union, also attacked the chancellor for his criticism of her party's position, saying Schröder "was branding the opposition of this land as warmongers."