German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that according to preliminary information, German chemicals sent to Syria were not used to produce sarin. The Left Party wants a closer look.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that according to preliminary information, German chemicals sent to Syria were not used to produce sarin. The Left Party wants a closer look.

German Chemicals for Syria: Merkel Denies Military Use

UN weapons inspectors take samples in Syria in August 2013.

DPA

UN weapons inspectors take samples in Syria in August 2013.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that according to preliminary information available to her, chemicals sent from Germany to Syria from 2002 to 2006 were used for civilian purposes, and not for the production of the nerve agent sarin.

Merkel's comments came after a document released Wednesday by the Economics Ministry confirmed that Germany had sent 137 tons of chemicals to Syria.
The chemicals included hydrogen flouride, sodium fluoride and ammonium hydrogen fluoride, which require special export permits (so-called "dual-use" permits) because they can be used for either civilian or military purposes, including the production of deadly sarin.
Speaking on the German network ARD, Merkel said that her predecessors in a center-left coalition of the Social Democrats and the Greens had looked carefully at what the chemicals would be used for in Syria. The exports were sent to Syria during that coalition in 2002 to 2003, and two years later, after a grand coalition government made up of Merkel's Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats had taken power in Berlin.

Read More Here

*******************************************************************

Germany Supplied 'Dual-Use' Chemicals to Syria

BERLIN September 18, 2013 (AP)

Germany exported more than 100 metric tons (110 tons) of "dual-use" chemicals to Syria between 2002 and 2006, but officials insisted Wednesday there was no indication the substances had been used to make chemical weapons such as the poisonous sarin gas used in last month's deadly attack outside Damascus.
The exports were authorized after officials were assured of "plausible civilian uses" for the chemicals, the Economy Ministry said in a written response to questions from left-wing lawmakers.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was no indication they had been used for military purposes.
"According to all the information available to me, they were used for civilian purposes," Merkel told public television station ARD.
But she said officials were still checking whether further shipments took place after 2006 and before May 2011, when Germany imposed strict controls on exports to Syria.

Read More Here

*******************************************************************