31.   The German observer arrived at the site in the ethnic Albanian village of Rogovo shortly after the killing, Scharping said.

32.   The military helicopters will be used for both purposes, although Scharping did not say when they might be sent.

33.   However, Scharping said the SPD wanted the talks to be held in February.

34.   Apparently agreeing in this with the government, Scharping said the criteria should be better secured and made more permanent than hitherto laid down.

35.   Asked by Bild when German soldiers would be sent to Afghanistan, Scharping said this depended on the UN mandate.

36.   But Scharping said he would not change the guarantee because both the government and opposition parties backed the project and would eventually approve all its financing.

37.   But Scharping said the SPD wanted the talks to be held this month.

38.   Scharping has said he expects the matter to be settled definitively at the November party congress.

39.   Scharping said that the German security council, a high-level panel charged with reviewing arms exports and other security issues, had debated the issue.

40.   Scharping also said that Germany, because of its military past, should be cautious when undertaking military interventions.