Delegates at a congress of the German Green Party in Bonn have been told to expect a marked change in foreign policy following their arrival in power.

The Greens' foreign policy expert, Ludger Volmer, said the new coalition with the Social Democrats would work to civilize international relations, as he put it, and strengthen arms control.

The party is to be given the foreign ministry in the new administration.

A vote on the coalition agreement with the Social Democrats is due shortly.

The party leader, Joschka Fischer, said it would be the most important decision the party had taken since its creation nearly twenty years ago -- to exchange the politics of protest for the politics of government.