Germany ratifies Maastricht

(First Edition)

BONN (AP) - Germany yesterday formally ratified the Maastricht treaty on European unification, leaving only Britain and Denmark to vote on the accord.

The Bundesrat, or upper house of parliament, unanimously accepted terms of the treaty. The Bundestag, or lower house, overwhelmingly approved the treaty earlier this month. Approval of both houses was needed for ratification.

'The people fear a centralised, large and unified state,' acknowledged Max Streibl, the Minister-President of Bavaria. But he said a 'no to Maastricht' was not the answer. 'We need Europe,' Mr Streibl told the Bundesrat, adding that Europe's attempts to deal with war, refugees and environmental problems could only be addressed by a unified community.