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German Chancellor Merkel says arms aid for
Iraqi Kurdistan in Europe's interest
1.9.2014
Update 2 |
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Merkel says arms aid for Iraqi
Kurds also defends Europe
September 1, 2014
BERLIN,— German Chancellor Angela Merkel on
Monday defended a watershed decision to send arms to
Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan battling jihadist
militants, saying Europe's own security was at
stake.
Merkel told parliament that Germany's move to break
with a post-war policy of refusing to send weapons
into conflict zones was crucial in strife-torn Iraq,
the scene of "inconceivable atrocities" against
civilians.
"We have the opportunity to save lives and stop the
further spread of mass murder in Iraq," Merkel said
during an impassioned 25-minute speech.
"We have the chance to prevent terrorists from
creating another safe haven for themselves. We must
take this chance."
The German government announced late Sunday that it
would send military equipment including anti-tank
rocket launchers, rifles and hand grenades, to Iraqi
Kurdistan'swww.Ekurd.net
Kurdish Peshmerga fighting to stop Islamic State
(IS) militants.
Merkel said that an estimated 400 German nationals
had travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight on the side
of the jihadists, who were threatening the stability
of the entire region.
"We must fear these fighters could return one day"
and mount attacks in European cities, she said.
"The enormous suffering of many people cries to
the heavens and our own security interests are
threatened."
The German leader added that if "terrorists are
allowed to subjugate an area in order to create a
haven for themselves and other terrorists, the
danger grows for us as well".
A slippery slope?
The Sunni IS and its allies control swathes of both
northern and western Iraq and neighbouring
northeastern Syria, where they have waged a bloody
campaign that has shocked the world.
Merkel firmly dismissed opposition accusations that
the German weapons could fall into the wrong hands,
or that Germany was embarking on a slippery slope
toward "militarism".
"What about the acute risks posed by the terror
group of IS? What is happening is more grave than
what could happen," she said.
"We are faced with the choice of not taking a risk
and thus accepting the spread of terror, or doing
something to help those fighting vicious... terror."
After a three-hour debate in the Bundestag lower
house, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the
shipment in a non-binding vote backed by Merkel's
large majority.
Opposition deputies complained that the parliament
had not had a real say in a vote with wide-reaching
consequences for German foreign policy.
The German equipment, which will be delivered in
three stages, will include 30 anti-tank missile
systems, 16,000 assault rifles, 8,000 pistols as
well as portable anti-tank rocket launchers, the
defence ministry said.
As well as weapons, Germany plans to send other
items such as tents, helmets and radio equipment.
The first deliveries will be able to equip about
4,000 soldiers by the end of September.
The equipment, which has been taken out of German
army reserves, is valued at 70 million Euros ($92
million). A total of around 50 million Euros in
humanitarian assistance has also been earmarked.
Meanwhile the Bundeswehr army plans to bring a small
group of Kurdish Peshmerga troops to southern
Germany for a week's training with the equipment.
Merkel said Germany was also prepared to take in
additional Iraqi refugees, without specifying a
number.
Germany's decision follows similar moves by several
other countries, including the United States, Italy,
France and Britain.
However supplying military hardware is unusual for
Germany which, burdened by its past aggression in
two world wars, generally shies away from foreign
military engagements and as a rule does not export
weapons into war zones.
The government shift has been controversial among
the public, with opinion polls have showing strong
opposition to arms shipments to Iraq.
Sixty percent of respondents were against the idea,
and only 34 percent in favour, in an Infratest dimap
poll for ARD public television published Friday.
Regions and cities names in Kurdish may have been changed or added to
the article by Ekurd.net
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency,
AFP
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