MESOP : DESPITE THE MASSIVE PARLAMENTARIAN RESISTANCE OF THE PKK-affiliated GERMAN “LEFTPARTY” – NOW MORE TRAINING + WEAPONS FOR PESH

Germany to Provide More Weapons and Training to the Kurds – German Parliament approves plan by majority vote to send more military aid to Kurds

Basnews – 30.01.2015 – BERLIN – In February, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces will receive more Milan-rockets, the German Defence Minister has announced today. Moreover, the German parliament in an outright majority voted to send trainers to Iraqi Kurdistan. This despite of opposition of leftwing parties who claim the mission is unconstitutional.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has announced in a television interview, that Germany will provide more heavy weapons and ammunition to the Kurds. Earlier the Kurds have asked the international community to provide more weapons.

According to the Defence Minister the struggle of the Kurds is also in the Germany’s interest.Frank-Walter Steinmeier from the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), the mission will not be a ‘combat mission, it’s about education’. Moreover, the German parliament has approved a mission of 100 trainers to go to Kurdistan to support the Peshmerga forces. 457 of the 590 MPs voted yes, there were only 79 votes against, and 54 abstentions. This despite of opposition from the Left Party and the Green party that argue the mission is unconstitutional. According to Germany’s constitution the military can only be deployed in a collective mission under a UN Security Council mandate, NATO, or the EU flag. But the government does not expect any legal action. Defence Minister von der Leyen says they want to create a new list for further assistance to the Kurds, since the “Peshmerga basically lack everything,” said the politician. The Peshmerga forces especially need ammunition for assault rifles and Milan rockets.