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German diplomat: Military solution to Syrian conflict possible

Wolfgang Ischinger said the European Union's member states, including Germany, should be ready to discuss not only diplomatic initiatives but also a possible military solution of the problem

© AP Photo/Jake Simkin

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BERLIN, September 25. /TASS/. Former German ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger has urged not to rule out the possibility of military measures to resolve Syria’s conflict. He said the European Union's member states, including Germany, should be ready to discuss not only diplomatic initiatives but also a possible military solution of the problem.

"To make it clearer, it's not about deploying the Bundeswehr [the German armed forces] but it's about whether we can take part in the planning process," Ischinger said. "Will the creation of a no-fly zone in some parts of Syria facilitate the settlement? Is Russia ready to participate in such actions? How can we contribute to it?" he asked.

The 69-year-old former German diplomat has welcomed joint diplomatic initiatives of the West and Russia aimed at resolving the conflict in Syria.

Ischinger, who runs the annual Munich Security Conference and took part in international talks on Bosnia and Kosovo, told German television channel ARD on Friday: "It has long been clear that without Russia, neither in Ukraine nor in Syria will it be possible to achieve peace."

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