Germany's Reactions to US Terrorism Acts

Official Response

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder condemned the suspected terror attacks against the United States on Tuesday as a "declaration of war against the civilized world" and said Berlin stood by its American friends. In an official letter to President Bush, Schroeder spoke on behalf of the German people, expressing sympathies and condolences to the victims and their families.

"This is not only an attack on the United States but an attack on the civilized world," he told a news conference after briefing the German parliament on the unfolding events. "Germany stands at the side of the United States without reservation."

German President Johannes Rau summed up the historical significance of the attacks. "This day has changed the world. A terrible event, the scale of which we cannot yet appreciate," Rau told an audience in Helsinki.

Chancellor Schroeder said he had spoken to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin and that all would stand behind Washington.

"We are all of the same opinion that it is now about displaying solidarity with the United States," Schroeder said, adding that the European Union would do all it could to help. Schroeder said Germany would help the United States with any information that domestic security agencies could provide.

Schroeder added that although he had no major concerns about internal German security the country would help secure U.S. buildings, such as military bases located in Germany. Shortly after hearing news of the attacks in New York and Washington, Schroeder said the sympathy of all Germans went out to the victims and their families. "Whoever helps or protects these terrorists, violates all the fundamental values which make it possible for peoples to live together," he added.

Emergency Meeting

The German Chancellor convened an emergency sitting of the German security council immediately after the attacks and was expected to make a government declaration in parliament on Wednesday. The meeting of security advisors is the first such to convene under Schroeder. Among the issues discussed were increased security measures for Germany's airports, transportation infrastructure and American and Israeli buildings.

Security at all of Germany's airports and at the US Embassy in Berlin, has been stepped up. Lufthansa, Germany's national carrier, has cancelled flights to the USA and Canada until further notice. 22 Lufthansa aircraft were diverted on Tuesday, causing delays. The airline has also cancelled three flights to Israeli cities, namely Aman, Beruit and Tel Aviv.

The parliament, which had interrupted a debate about the 2002 budget earlier on Tuesday, will cancel three further sessions set for the rest of the week, leaders from Schroeder's Social Democrats said.

The Chancellor also cancelled a planned visit to Stockholm on Friday. And said the German government and parliament will remain on full alert.

Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said the attack had hit at the heart of the free world. "The world is in a certain state of shock ... and rightly so," he said.

Shock and Outrage

The German Interior Ministry said it has set up a cross-ministerial crisis committee, while security was increased at German government and American and Israeli installations across the country.

The regional government in the state of Hesse recommended the main skyscrapers in Frankfurt, Germany's financial capital and home to the European Central Bank, close on Wednesday. The city's main banks and insurance companies indicated, however, they would go about business as usual.

"The goal of terrorists is to disrupt business worldwide and I don't want to play along with that," said Peter Pietsch, spokesman for Commerzbank, whose headquarters is the tallest building in continental Europe.

The German government announced that all flags on all public buildings in Germmmany would fly at half mast for two days. In Berlin, hundreds of people, flanked by police, walked down the central Unter Den Linden boulevard carrying candles following a mass in the city's cathedral. German peace groups urged the United States to resist the urge to retaliate blindly.

Germany Limits Support

Meanwhile, in a series of media interviews this weekend, German official hinted that there may be limits to its support for the United States - especially if it requires sending German soldiers to war. In an interview with German public television station ARD, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the country has a duty to stand behind the United States that will be fulfilled, but he also warned "we are not at war." Germany cannot commit to any military intervention without the approval of parliament.

German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping said the parliament would decide on the proper course of action during the next week.

Military Participation Unlikely

In an interview with Deutschlandradio Sunday, German President Johannes Rau said he didn't believe the German military would participate in any retaliation. He also said it would be better to track down the perpetrators and try them in an international court.German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer offered similar sentiments. He warned against reckless reprisals for Tuesday's terror. "The worst thing we could do would be for the West to go against the Islamic world,'" Fischer told German public broadcaster ZDF. "It is the goal of these criminals to provoke a war of civilizations.''