German Left questions US military flights via Leipzig

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday January 31, 2007 23:04

by Coilín ÓhAiseadha

086 060 3818

World Airways' move from Shannon to Leipzig causes concern

The left-wing ”Die Linke” faction in the German parliament has submitted a series of 34 questions about the use of Leipzig-Halle airport to transport US troops and cargo to Iraq and Afghanistan.

This article is based on a report that was posted to the Bundestag’s website on Monday.

"No to the military use of our airport"

The members of the left-wing faction and of the Bundestag believe that the US armed forces have been using the airport to conduct the regular replacement of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since 23 May 2006, and that the airport is “scheduled for an increasing military application”. Up to 80 troop transport aircraft have been refuelling and changing crew at Leipzig every month, and approximately 160 soldiers have been transiting at the airport every day, they say.

This military use of the airport is in conflict with the “two-plus-four" treaty (Zwei-plus-vier-Vertrag) regarding German reunification, which precludes the stationing of NATO aircraft and associated personnel in the territory of the former East Germany.

In their submission, the members ask the government what cargo the aircraft are carrying, where the soldiers are being transported to and whether the logistical coordination of the United States’ sorties to Iraq and Afghanistan has been relocated from Shannon to Leipzig.

They mention World Airways specifically, asking what information their government has about the increase in level of military activity to 160 landings and take-offs per month in association with the airline's move from Shannon to Leipzig from 1 July 2006.

They ask by what criteria their government might classify the transport of troops and military cargo to a war zone as "civilian" activity.

And they ask what precautions the government has taken to protect the populace in the face of an increasing risk of a terrorist attack at the airport.

Please note that the foregoing English summary of the German original may be imperfectly translated.

Please read the notice on the Bundestag’s website here:
Linke befürchten militärische Nutzung am Flughafen Halle-Leipzig
http://www.bundestag.de/aktuell/hib/2007/2007_023/03.html

And read the full text of the submission here:
Kleine Anfrage
Nutzung des Mitteldeutschen Flughafens Leipzig/Halle für militärische Zwecke
http://dip.bundestag.de/btd/16/041/1604122.pdf

Please feel free to make any appropriate corrections to my report in the event of translation errors, and/or to translate and post further interesting excerpts as comments below. Thanks in advance!