Germany Committed to Modern Armed Forces - Merkel
Posted on: Wednesday, 30 November 2005, 12:00 CST
Text of report by German news agency ddp
Berlin: The new federal government plans to stick to compulsory military service and give the Bundeswehr [German armed forces] material and financial means in line with the new challenges. This was stressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel (Christian Democratic Union) in her government statement in the Bundestag in Berlin on Wednesday [30 November]. Germany's claim to have a say in politics must be supported by its capability of participation.
Merkel emphasized the federal government will make sure that goals and capabilities of foreign and security policy remain "in balance". Thus, the restructuring of the Bundeswehr to an "army in operation" will be continued. The decision by former Defence Minister Peter Struck (Social Democratic Party of Germany) for a new structure of the smaller army and the stationing concept with a further reduction of the number of premises will be upheld, Merkel said.
Source: BBC Monitoring European
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