09.06.2004, 19:06
Zitat:No German Aid for Israel Sub PurchaseQuelle: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.3989816.1086789410.QMcXIsOa9dUAAHaBFuE&modele=jdc_34">http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bi ... ele=jdc_34</a><!-- m -->
On his first official visit to Israel, German Defense Minister Peter Struck said Berlin supported strengthening Israeli security defenses but it would not subsidize the purchase of German submarines.
Israel is currently negotiating to buy two new German submarines as part of a plan to improve its coastal defences, but does not have the money to pay for the new submarines.
During his visit to Jerusalem on Monday, Struck met his Israeli counterpart, Shaul Mofaz, and also spoke with Israeli President Moshe Katzav and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The German defense minister emphasized that his government had no fundamental objections to selling Israel the U boats. "In principle the German government would have no reservations about an export licence," he stressed, adding that "we are fully conscious of Israel's security needs. But we are not in a position to make any form of financial concessions".
In other words, the price of 500 million euros per submarine won't be reduced -- unlike the last time Israel bought submarines from Germany, when Berlin allowed a huge discount. Struck made clear that this won't be happening again.