"The oil reserves and natural resources of the county must be owned and under the control of the Iraqi people and be of benefit to them," said Schroeder in a government declaration to the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag.

He also proposed further guidelines for the post-war order in Iraq.

The territorial integrity of the country must be secured after the war and the Iraqi people be given the right to decide on their own future, said Schroeder.

Meanwhile, he urged to start a political process to create stability for the whole Middle East region, while stressing that the United Nations must play a decisive role in post-war Iraq.

The chancellor reiterated Germany's stance that Germany would not participate in the war. However, he said Germany would fulfill its alliance obligations for the United States, Britain and Turkey.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2003)