Schroeder: Nothing Automatic About Military Action [Bundestag address]

Reuters | February 13, 2003

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Thursday that he believed U.N. Security Council resolution 1441 passed in November does not include any automatic authority for a military strike against Iraq.

Speaking in parliament, Schroeder said the resolution obligating Iraq to disarm "or face serious consequences" which was passed unanimously by the U.N. Security Council did not automatically justify military action.

"Germany supports this resolution and we have worked actively on implementing it," Schroeder said. "But we support resolution 1441 as a Security Council member. But equally as clear is that this resolution contains nothing automatic as far as military force is concerned."

Schroeder also said it wasn't appropriate for NATO to decide on military planning to protect Turkey ahead of Friday's U.N. Security Council meeting.

Schroeder said a majority on the Security Council share Germany's views that all steps for peace were necessary. He has ruled out voting in favor of war on Iraq in the Security Council.

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Well, at the very least it means we can use HARSH language on him!