Germany has strongly opposed military intervention in Syria, adding voice to the calls for a political solution to the country’s prolonged crisis.
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Wednesday warned that military action — strongly supported by Britain, France and the US — could easilylead to an all-out war in Syria.
“We must learn lessons from past (military) interventions,” he said in an address at a university in Ankara.
He also questioned a proposal for establishing a no-fly zone or buffer-zones as a complicated and serious matter.
The German defense minister was on a visit to Turkey, a country which hosts Syrian opposition meetings while its leaders have openly supported regime change in Syria.
But a number of countries including Russia and China have called for a political solution in Syria.
The opposition blames the government for the bloodshed. But Damascus points the finger at armed groups supported by some Western and Arab countries.