European Parliament
President.
Colleagues, it is my sad duty today to mark the deaths of four German soldiers, part of the international security assistance force in Kabul, on 7 June 2003.
These deaths occurred during a terrorist attack on the Kabul military airport where the soldiers were waiting for their flight home after several months of service in Afghanistan. 29 of their comrades were seriously injured. These German soldiers are the first casualties by enemy action since Germany decided to take an active part in out-of-area military missions.
I wish, on behalf of the European Parliament, to communicate our condolences for these victims and to their families, and to express our sympathy with the German Government and the armed forces.
(The House rose and observed one minute's silence)

