German Defense Minister Peter Struck reiterated on Saturday that his country will not send troops to Iraq, but will render support for rebuilding security forces in the war-ravaged country.

Struck made the remarks at the so-called "Weimar Triangle" meeting with his French and Polish counterparts, Michele Alliot-Marie and Jerzy Szmajdzinski, in the town of Heiligendamm in northern Germany.

The "Weimar Triangle" is a forum for Germany, France and Poland,which was initiated by then German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher in 1991. The defense ministers of the three countries began to hold meetings in 1994.

Struck said that Germany has stood firm in a position different from the Polish one, but will help Iraq rebuild its security troops.

He added that the German government has committed itself many times to provide training for the Iraqi police.

Berlin, Paris and Warsaw all agreed that the "Weimar Triangle" is one of the important institutions to promote cooperation within Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Struck said.

French Defense Minister Alliot-Marie also said that the "Weimar Triangle" could act as an engine to boost cooperation among the European countries, and involve more nations into it.

As NATO was in the process of readjustment, the European countries should expand their influence, said Alliot-Marie.

She suggested that European nations step up efforts for joint military training, and form "a special force" to be deployed in the areas which are in the transition period from military governing to civil administration.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)