New Delhi: Germany on March 3 said it shared a common view with India that the Iraq
crisis must be resolved through peaceful political means though the aim of all
countries was to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
"India and Germany share the view that everything must be tried to fully implement
the relevant Security Council resolutions using peaceful political means. Only in
this way can the economic and political stability of the region be maintained,"
Johannes Rau, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, said.
Addressing a business session organised jointly by Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), he
said, "It is the aim of us all to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and
to cause Iraq to comply strictly with the terms of resolution 1441."
While opinions could differ on the best means to preserve peace and stability, there
is no difference of opinion as regards the objective, he said, adding this point was
sometimes lost in the heat of the debate, namely that all pursue the same
goal.
Rau said there was considerable concern over the situation in Iraq and asserted that
in the past century countries learned most painfully that stability and prosperity
are not gained through war, violence and hegemonic ambitions but through co-
operation, dialogue and arms control.
"Integration and co-operation in Europe, the peaceful overcoming of the division of
our continent, is in our eyes the greatest political success story of the last 50
years," he added.
PTI
