LOC21:30
18:30 GMT
BERLIN, May 26 (KUNA) -- German Defense Minister Thomas Maiziere stunned
German public opinion here Thursday when he did not exclude the possibility of
sending German troops to hot spots like Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia or Sudan.
Maiziere said, in a statement to the website of Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung, that, "it is expected that Germany will receive demands for sending
troops to countries like Pakistan, Yemen or Sudan," noting Germany's response
to such calls, "will depend on the nature of tasks, and to what extent the
governmental coalition and opposition parties will agree on sending these
troops."
Following taking up his new tasks some few weeks ago, Maiziere submitted
his plans on restructuring the German army, and turning it from a one relying
on the compulsory service into a professional regular army.
According the new reforms, the number of German soldiers will be reduced
from 220,000 recruits to 170,000 professional servicemen, while the number of
troops carrying out tasks outside Germany will rise to 10,000 soldiers.
The dispatch of German soldiers to hot spots is always met with a strong
opposition, particularly from the leftist parties, and the German public
opinion due to the modern history of Germany and its pivotal role in the World
War II. (end)
ang.aff
KUNA 262130 May 11NNNN