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SKOPJE, Macedonia -- The German ambassador to Skopje, aided by his wife and driver, was caught chopping down a protected species of fir, presumably for a Christmas tree, media reports said.
The Dnevnik daily reported Monday that Ambassador Werner Burkat apparently wanted the tree for his embassy two weeks ago.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said Burkat was only taking a few branches -- not the whole tree -- for traditional German Advent wreaths.
The wreaths were sold at a Christmas bazaar and the proceeds were donated to a hospital in Skopje, said the spokesman in Berlin, who declined to give his name.
Ljupco Stojanovski, a forest ecologist, claimed he saw Burkat take his ax to the tree. The ecologist was in the Macedonian national park of Pelister, 120 miles southwest of the capital Skopje, at the same time as Burkat.
"I saw the ambassador and his entourage cutting down the rare Molika fir tree," Stojanovski was quoted as saying. "They were breaking the law -- I simply walked up to them and demanded to see their IDs."
Stojanovski later submitted a citizen's complaint to the ministry in Skopje.
The German ambassador's action could amount to an "ecological offense" under Macedonian law. The offense draws a fine equal to one-fifth of the offender's monthly salary.
It was not clear whether the ambassador, who enjoys diplomatic immunity because of his office, would actually be fined.
The German Embassy in Skopje would not comment on the report and told The Associated Press that Burkat was on Christmas leave in Germany.
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