Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Wednesday that Germany was ready to face the risks of a military response to the anti-US terror attacks, but rejected "adventures" and called for a comprehensive European Union plan to combat terrorism by tackling its roots.
He also told the administration of President George W. Bush that the United States had a duty to inform and consult with its European allies about its intentions.
Addressing a special session of the German parliament on how to respond to the shocking attacks of September 11, Schroeder said Germany and its European partners had rights as well as duties under the Atlantic alliance.
"And this means information and consultation," he said.
He said that Germans and Europeans sought "unrestricted solidarity with the USA regarding all necessary measures".
"Germany is ready for risks, including military ones, but not for adventures. That is not being demanded of us, thanks to the sensible attitude of the Americans, and will certainly also not be demanded," he added.
Schroeder called for an EU plan to lay the foundations for political and economic stabilisation of the Middle East and Central Asia regions in particular and thereby help prevent crises which engender terrorism.
"We Europeans must strengthen our cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Precisely now, Europe must speak with one voice," he told the lower house, the Bundestag.
The chancellor said that Friday's extraordinary EU summit in Brussels to discuss the EU stand had been convened on his initiative.
"Our aim must be to integrate all countries if possible in a worldwide system of security and well-being. To that end we want to offer development cooperation incentives to those states which declare their readiness to combat terrorism," he said.
"We must and we want to develop a comprehensive plan for the prevention and management of crises. This plan must be founded upon political, economic, cultural and security cooperation.
"We must create the foundations for such a political and economic stabilisation and stability plan for the crisis regions of the Middle East and Central Asia.
"Above all we must now make united efforts to achieve a breakthrough for peace in the Middle East," he stressed.
The chancellor pointed to the intensive Middle East mediation efforts over recent weeks by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer -- who flew to the United States Tuesday saying there was a need for wide-ranging consultations between Berlin and Washington.
Through Fischer, Germany has spearheaded EU efforts to stop the fighting and get the Palestinians and Israelis back round the negotiating table at a time when the Bush administration has been taking a back-seat view of the conflict.
In his speech, Schroeder revealed that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will make a visit to Germany for talks on the Middle East next Tuesday.
He noted that the Palestinian ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawals had eased the situation.
"From this point of view we must pursue dialogue with moderate Arab leaders," Schroeder said, adding that he had in the last few days been in touch with Jordan's King Abdallah and the Egyptian head of state.
He said the German government would also use its contacts with important regional powers such as Syria and Iran in order to draw them into helping fight terrorism.
He reiterated that the anti-US terror attacks did not point to a "struggle between cultures" but a "struggle for culture" and universal values.
"We are not at war with a state. And we are also not at war with the Islamic world," he stressed. "The terrorists have declared war against us, and they will be called to account for that."
The bloody attacks in New York and Washington had nothing to do with religion, he went on. "They are the expression of a criminal mentality," he declared -- BERLIN (AFP)
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