Human chain blocks neo-Nazi parade in Dresden

Source : Voice of Russia

A human chain has blocked an annual neo-Nazi parade in downtown Dresden commemorating the anniversary of the city’s firebombing in 1945 by allied forces.

Some 13,000 anti-Nazi protesters have formed a human chain that sprawled along the Elbe River in front of the Dresden historical city center to bar the way of extreme right-wing activists who have notoriously been using the infamous Dresden bombing to spread their ideology.

Wednesday's demonstration marks the 68th anniversary of the bombing against the civilian population, which killed some 25,000 innocent people during World War II.

“It is unbearable that all manner of right-wing extremists are attempting to take advantage of the [day of commemoration] crusade of hate and revenge,” Dresden Mayor Helma Orosz was reported as saying.

Voice of Russia, RT

Report: Saudi Arabia Mulls German Patrol Boat Deal

Source : defensenews.com

FRANKFURT — Saudi Arabia is planning to buy German patrol boats for a total of around 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) despite some opposition in Germany, a newspaper reported Feb. 10.

Germany’s federal security council, which includes Chancellor Angela Merkel, has issued a positive response to a preliminary request for the sale by the Bremen-based Luerssen shipyard, the Bild am Sonntag said.

The boats, worth between 10 million euros and 25 million euros each, are expected to be delivered to Saudi Arabia within two years after the contract has been signed, the paper said.

Thomas Oppermann, chief whip of the opposition Social Democratic Party, voiced criticism of the project.

“The German government apparently wants to completely arm Saudi Arabia and has learnt nothing from the public protests against supplying this country with weapons,” he was quoted as saying.

In December, the newspaper reported that Riyadh planned to buy at least 30 German armoured vehicles, known as Dingo 2.

German Government Wants To Boost Support for Malian Operation

Source : defensenews.com

BONN — The German government wants to extend its support for international and French operations in West African Mali, possibly including A310 MRTT-type tanker aircraft, military trainers and medical personnel.

Germany’s Air Force has already sent three C-160 Transall ESS transport aircraft with 75 soldiers to Dakar, Senegal. Their job is to transport troops of the Economic Community Of West African States to the Malian capital Bamako and Sevare-Mopti. In this context, the government made it clear on Jan. 16 that these troops would not support French forces in Operation Serval, the name given to the effort to defeat Islamist rebels in the country.

For the near future, the German government also plans to support the European Union training mission for Mali. This is expected to consist of about 40 personnel to train Malian forces in operations such as bridge building or mine clearance.

After a meeting on Mali in Bruxelles on Feb. 5, German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière told the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel that Germany also offered a military field hospital with about 40 medics and soldiers.

Besides its involvement in international operations, Germany also wants to help the French Air Force directly. Currently, Germany’s A310 tanker aircraft are undergoing the certification process needed for the aerial refueling of allied aircraft, such as Rafale and Mirage fighter jets.

These additional offers still need approval by the German Bundestag. The German Cabinet may make final decisions on some of these issues during a Feb. 19 meeting. The parliament then could vote at the end of the month.

Close Merkel ally quits in German plagiarism scandal

Source : LBCI News

German Education Minister Annette Schavan resigned on Saturday after being stripped of her doctorate for alleged plagiarism, in an embarrassing blow to her ally Angela Merkel.

The move came four days after the University of Duesseldorf ruled Schavan, a close confidante to the chancellor, had "systematically and intentionally" copied parts of her thesis, and withdrew her Ph.D, granted more than 30 years ago.

"Annette Schavan offered her resignation last night," Merkel told reporters.

"I accepted this resignation with a very heavy heart," the chancellor added, saying Schavan was putting the public good ahead of her own welfare.

Merkel, who lost her defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in a similar scandal two years ago, made no mention of the charges against Schavan.

Schavan, who said their friendship would last, reiterated she would fight the university's decision to strip her of her degree.

"I will not accept the decision and will take legal action against it," Schavan told reporters. "When an (education) minister sues a university, then that comes with strains, for my office, for the ministry, the government and for the Christian Democrats. I want to avoid just that."

While awkward for Merkel, Schavan's resignation is seen as unlikely to weaken the chancellor's chances to win a third term in elections on Sept. 22. Her Christian Democrats regularly poll above 40 percent, giving them an easy lead over the main opposition Social Democrats.

Former Iranian central bank head detained in Germany with check worth $70 million

Source : Vesti Kavkaza

Former Iranian central bank head detained in Germany with check worth $70 million

The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reports that a man caught last month trying to enter Germany with a check worth about $70 million was Iran’s former central bank chief.The weekly reports that customs officials at Duesseldorf airport found the check in Tahmasb Mazaheri’s luggage Jan. 21 upon his arrival from Turkey.German customs had issued a statement Friday saying a check for 300 million Venezuelan Bolivars issued by the Bank of Venezuela was found on an unnamed 59-year-old man.

Germany, Italy protest at U.S. axing of missile defense funding

Source :  Reuters

Reuters) - Germany and Italy have told the United States they expect it to fulfill its obligations after the U.S. Congress blocked funding for a missile defense program involving the three countries, Germany said on Saturday.

A defense bill passed by Congress in December prohibited a final U.S. payment of $400.9 million for development of the Medium Extended Air and Missile Defense System, known as MEADS, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin with partners in Italy and Germany. U.S. lawmakers said Washington has no plans to produce the system.

The United States, Italy and Germany have spent about $4 billion to develop MEADS over the past decade as a successor to the Patriot missile defense system.

"I expect the United States to stick to their word and fulfill the MEADS contract," German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters at the Munich security conference.

He said that, together with the Italian defense minister, he had sent a "pretty tough" letter to U.S. authorities driving this point home.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was doing all he could to ensure the United States fulfilled its commitments, de Maiziere said, although he acknowledged that the chances of the United States fulfilling the agreement had deteriorated.

Congress defied President Barack Obama's administration by axing funding for the program in a $633 billion bill authorizing funding for the U.S. military in fiscal year 2013.

The White House raised concerns about the bill before its approval, warning that a ban on MEADS funding could harm Washington's broader relationship with its allies.

Lockheed, the Pentagon and officials in Italy and Germany hope that congressional appropriators, who control the actual funding for arms programs, will still allow the Pentagon to fulfill its final funding obligations for the program.

Otherwise, they argue, the U.S. government may face termination fees nearly equal to the money required to finish the system, and could lose access to the technologies developed under the international program.

The Lockheed Martin-led consortium continues to work towards a fourth quarter 2013 flight test to prove the MEADS missile defense system can intercept a ballistic missile.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold, writing by Adrian Croft; Editing by Jason Webb)

Munich security conference to focus on Syria, Mali, Iran

Source :   Xinhua

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 500 experts and officials from around the world gathered for the 49th Munich Security Conference on Friday to discuss security issues related to Syria, Mali and Iran.

Officials including Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces President Sheikh Moaz Al-Khatib, and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi are scheduled to attend the event.

"The appalling violence in Syria and Iran's nuclear program are topics that will be of critical importance over the next months, and maybe years," said Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference.

U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden, at his first visit to Europe since Barack Obama's second-term as U.S. president began, will give a speech in the conference on Saturday, and is expected to hold bilateral talks with Brahimi, Salehi, as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

On Friday, Biden urged Iran to return to negotiation table in an interview with German Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, warning that time window for "successful diplomacy" would be kept open, "however, not unlimitedly."

The ongoing crisis in Europe, rising powers in Asia and Latin America, and cyber security will also be discussed.