Joschka Fischer Quotations

Today we have agreed on these principles. Much is left to do, ... There are differences of opinion on whether to stop the bombings.

We were in opposition to the decision to go to war. But after the war happened, it was clear that you could not sit and look-there would be a breeding ground for terrorism or a new collapsed or failed state named Iraq!

We will not send troops. Germany is not committed to Iraq - we will not commit ourselves with troops.

There are differences in the world community. But we have a common interest in a strong multilateral system.

We have an interest in excellent relations because we are neighbours as Europeans with Russia. We are allies with the United States in the NATO framework.

The United States is our most important ally. They helped us many times. Without the United States, the unification or German democratisation after the Nazi period would have been much more complicated, or almost impossible.

We have every interest in seeing that the military use of nuclear power will be contained.

We are ready to train new Iraqi forces outside Iraq. We did it in Abu Dhabi.

When I heard that yesterday, I was very diplomatic and didn't pull a face. But in my head you could imagine what I was seeing: I saw people sitting around in dreadlocks with joints in their hands, and reggae music playing in the background.

I never use the concept, multipolar. I use multilateral. Because we have only one global power: whether you like it or not, this is the United States.