German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet approved the deployment of more troops to Afghanistan after the government withdrew its Mediterranean forces not participating in the Libya mission.
As many as 300 more German personnel will be dispatched to patrol Afghan airspace, allowing NATO commanders to transfer additional forces to the Mediterranean to take part in the operation against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. Germany, which has rejected military intervention in Libya, withdrew four vessels from the Mediterranean.
“This will alleviate NATO and it’s also a political signal of solidarity in the alliance with respect to the mission in Libya,” German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said today in an interview on Deutschlandfunk radio.
Germany joined Russia, China, India and Brazil in abstaining from a March 17 vote in the United Nations Security Council in favor of military action to stop Qaddafi’s campaign against rebels.
De Maiziere said the withdrawal of German naval and surveillance forces from the Mediterranean was necessary because they lacked a parliamentary mandate now that the mission involves military engagement. Germany pulled two frigates and two other vessels with crews of about 550, as well as 60 to 70 surveillance personnel.
“It must be possible in an alliance that you can have differing opinions on individual questions or that you don’t take part in certain activities,” de Maiziere said. “You can’t take part a little bit, either you take part or not at all.”
The deployment to Afghanistan also requires parliamentary approval and will be voted on by lawmakers this week.
الرئيسية 
موضوع: Germany Backs More Troops in Afghanistan After Libya Rejection 
الأربعاء مارس 23, 2011 4:13 am
