Berlin, March 21: The German foreign minister has defended Berlin’s decision not to take part in the Western invasion of Libya, warning of a protracted conflict in turmoil-hit country.
“It is not because we have some sort of lingering soft spot for [Libyan ruler Muammar] Gaddafi’s system that we decided not to send German troops to Libya, but because we also have to see the risks of a lengthy mission,” AFP quoted Guido Westerwelle as saying on Sunday.
He made the remarks as Western countries, including the US, Britain, France, Denmark, Norway, and Canada have attacked Libya, saying that the invasion is part of a UN-mandated resolution to put into effect a no-fly zone over the North African country.
The German minister went on to brush aside mounting criticism heaped on Berlin over its “isolation” in the face of Europe’s involvement in enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, saying his country was not alone in its non-committal stance toward military action in the country.
“The impression that Germany is isolated in Europe or the international community is completely wrong,” Westerwelle argued.
“Many other countries in the European Union not only understand our position, not only respect it, but also share it,” the German official noted, citing Poland as an example.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution, co-sponsored by France, Britain, Lebanon and the US, endorsing a no-fly zone over Libya and military strikes on pro-Gaddafi forces to guard civilians.
Ten of the UNSC’s 15 member states voted in favor of the resolution, while five countries, including Russia, China and Germany abstained, citing unpredictable consequences that a military action could bring about in the region.
Meanwhile, German opposition figures, including the head of the Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, have seized on Germany’s abstention in the voting as an evidence of weakness on the situation in Libya.
“Even worse — it looks as if Germany is knuckling under the power of this oil Mafioso [Gaddafi],” Gabriel said.
——–Agencies