German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/12,
p. 781.
Frau President. Thank you for the word and the friendly
introduction. – Frau Minister Baerbock. Frau Minister Lambrecht. Ladies and
gentlemen.
We all in this house certainly agree that decisions for a
mission of the armed forces require especial care so that these do not infringe
upon not only the protection of the soldiers committed but also upon
constitution and international law.
As was already heard, ISIS in 2014 assumed control over a
large territory in Iraq and in Syria. Since the beginning of 2015, Germany
supports the fight against ISIS by means of the training and equipment of Iraqi
armed forces. Following the terror attacks in Paris in November 2015, Germany
decided to also support the International Alliance against ISIS by means of the
commitment of military aircraft. Like some here in house, I still remember the
heated discussions over the international legal evaluation after combat
aircraft were put into action over Syria, naturally without the invitation of
the Syrian government. Out of consideration for international law, the AfD
delegation has thus rejected previous motions.
Yet the Green delegation also – we have already heard it –
voted against this mission and went even distinctly further in their criticism.
Their present State Secretary Frau Minister Baerbock designated the previous
mandate as illegal. I indeed do not know whether it originates in international
law, but there was criticism that one cannot clearly and distinctly read in the
United Nations resolution that a mission in Syria was justified. The mission
also does not correspond to the guidelines of the Federal Constitutional Court.
It is in fact the sole foreign mission of the Bundeswehr in a coalition which
does not take place within the scope of the EU, NATO or the United Nations.
The “Islamic State” meanwhile controls, unlike in 2015, no
more territory in Iraq and in Syria. The infringement of Syrian air space is
thus today still more difficult to justify than at that time. The Minister nevertheless
requests in her motion today a vote in favor so that the Bundeswehr can continue
to support the air missions of other states over Syria. This, according to your
motions, shall occur by means of air refueling, air space surveillance, reconnaissance and the passing along of acquired
information. The disgruntlement concerning this stirred up in your delegation
and in the SPD is understandable. On the other hand, the mandate for the
training of Iraqi armed forces, in any case included in your motion, is
fundamentally sensible and agreeable. We also welcome the intention, repeatedly
demanded by us, of a successive evaluation of the mission. You should not
combine into one motion and into one mandate these two missions based on fully
distinct international law – on one side, training; on the other side, a fight
against ISIS by armed means.
You should give the parliament the opportunity to advise on
two separate mandates, as was once demanded by the FDP. This would also build a
bridge to many parliamentarians in your delegation and in the SPD – an SPD which
indeed already today plans for the withdrawal from the mandate in nine months.
To make it brief: The AfD delegation cannot agree to your
motion in this form.
I am grateful for your attention.
[trans: tem]
