"Now countries are being threatened and invaded even though there is no proof of their involvement in terrorism," Mahathir said

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR , May 13 (IslamOnline.net) – Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called on Germany and other countries which still believe in the United Nations to restore confidence in the world body and international law, Bernama news agency reported Tuesday, May 13.

This came during talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, currently on a three-day visit to be wrapped up later Tuesday.

Mahathir said Germany could be of great help in restoring the respect of international laws and conventions, which were ignored by the very people who formulated and promoted them.

He added that if nothing were done, there would be international anarchy and weak countries cannot now be expected to submit to international laws and conventions if their security is threatened.

Mahathir said the small countries now lived in fear not only of terrorists but also from unilateral actions by powerful countries.

"We can expect no protection from international organizations like the United Nations since powerful countries like the United States and Britain can attack Iraq without the sanction of the U.N.," he said.

Schroeder praised Malaysia for its relative stability and for the success it displays as a multi-religious society.

The German chancellor said Malaysia could be a bridge between civilizations and called on the Malaysians to preserver their unity.

Exciting experience

An impressed Schroeder said Germany was confident that in future Malaysia would continue to contribute to stability in the region and take a decisive stand against terrorism and religious fanaticism.

"Your country can draw on its tradition of tolerance and harmonious diversity, thereby continuing to be an example for other multi-religious and multi-ethnic countries.

"Consider your diversity as a wealth to be preserved," he said.

"We would like to further develop the existing partnership between the European Union and ASEAN. This would be most successful if the countries of South-East Asia push ahead with their integrations, " said Schroeder.

He praised the Petronas Towers as an exciting experience, adding that the towers are a symbol of the impressive development of Malaysia .

He wished that more Germans could enjoy the wonderful Malaysian hospitality that many holiday and business travelers experienced.

Schroeder said he was pleased that German companies had been able to contribute to Malaysia 's impressive economic growth too.

Malaysia lauded, for its part, the principled stand of Germany and a few other European countries over the invasion of Iraq and the fact that they still believed in the U.N. and international law.

Both countries were in the anti-war camp that urged the U.S. and Britain to give more time to the U.N. and its inspectors to find Iraq ’s alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that has not been found until now.

Malaysia and Germany are trying to develop better relationship and are expected to forge business, technological and social links that could bring greater cooperation between the two peoples.

Israel Blamed

Expanding his thoughts on the reasons why the world was in conflict, Mahathir reiterated the country’s conviction that the present turmoil in the world had its roots in the decision to expropriate Palestinian territory to create the state of Israel .

"Ever since then, there has been no stability or peace in the Middle East . And now that instability had spilled over to every corner of the world. It is certainly the cause for the worldwide terrorism that we see today," he said according to Bernama.

He asserted that the world community should try to identify the causes of the Palestine-Israel conflict and to remove them.

"But instead, we see an attempt to out-terrorize the terrorists in order to deter them. Now countries are being threatened and invaded even though there is no proof of their involvement in terrorism," he underlined.

Mahathir said the attack against Iraq was seen by the Muslim world as an attempt to terrify the Muslim countries, adding that terrorists were not under the control of governments.

He reiterated that the war against terror will not be successful even if all the Muslim countries are subjugated.

“As fighters for freedom, they will physically oppose their colonization."