"Chancellor (Gerhard) Schroeder has stated that we will not send our units to Iraq, not now, not ever. I agree with that completely," Ruehe told reporters during a visit of a German parliamentary delegation to Sarajevo.
He thus made it clear that German Defence Minister Peter Stuck's statement that the government in Berlin could change its firm position on non-participation in the operations in Iraq had no support in the parliament.
Commenting on reports that Bosnia-Herzegovina could send a mine removal unit to Iraq, Ruehe said he believed it would be wiser for the local authorities to focus on solving numerous outstanding issues in the country.
He called on the Bosnian authorities and citizens to invest additional efforts to strengthen state structures.
Before visiting Sarajevo, the German parliamentarians visited Tirana and Zagreb. They will end their tour of the region in Belgrade.