<p>BERLIN &mdash; Germany’s health minister says he is “anything but happy” that Syria’s government — which has waged a devastating, deadly decade-long war against dissenters — has been selected for a seat on the World Health Organization’s executive board. </p>
<p>Health Minister Jens Spahn said Tuesday that the choice of Syria, which was confirmed with no debate or dissent at a meeting of WHO member nations in Geneva over the weekend, reflected the need to work with some governments for the benefit of their people — especially on health matters.</p>
<p>“I’m anything but happy with this decision,” Spahn said when asked about the issue at a news conference in Berlin.</p>
<p>But he added that international cooperation among sovereign states was necessary to coordinate and set standards together and noted that a similar situation also arises in other international forums like the U.N. Human Rights Council. </p>
<p>“These are the shortcomings of realpolitik,” he said. </p>
<p>“Especially when it comes to health issues and the health care of the population, the question is always: Who are we actually punishing here if we don’t make cooperation possible?" Spahn said. "Are we punishing the regime or the population?”</p>
<p>Dozens of medical workers in rebel-held northwest Syria on Monday protested the decision to grant the seat to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, accusing it of responsibility for bombing hospitals and clinics across the war-ravaged country. </p>
<p>The war has left half a million people dead and driven millions out of the country since the conflict erupted in 2011. </p>
<p>Syria was among 12 WHO member nations chosen to put forward new members for the 34-strong executive board, which is largely a technical group whose role is to carry out the decisions of, and advise, the assembly. </p>
<p>Syria will take up the seat when the board holds its latest meeting, which starts Wednesday. </p>
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<p>Associated Press Writer Jamey Keaten contributed from Geneva.</p>