US, Germany seek common ground, put disputes behind

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 28, 2004

US, Germany seek common ground, put disputes behind

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US President George W. Bush and visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Friday sought common ground on Iraq construction, Afghanistan and the Mideast peace, while putting their bitter feud over the Iraq war behind them.

"We have differences in the past, but there is nothing wrong with friends having differences and we have both committed to put the differences behind us and move forward," a relaxed and good-humored Bush told reporters after meeting with Schroeder, the first visit by the German chancellor to the White House in more than two years.

Bush was eager to tout his reconciliation and good relations with Schroeder, who started the US trip on Thursday.

"Germany is an important nation and Germany occupies an important place in Europe. And it is essential that America have good relations with Europe. Not only do we share values, we share economic interests. We have the capacity to help keep the peace. And so I would say our relations are good," Bush said.

Schroeder, who sat side by side with Bush in the Oval Office ofthe White House, seemed likewise in good mood.

"Indeed I am very pleased to be here once again. And indeed we talked about -- not about the past. We very much agreed on that --we have to talk about the present and the future now," Schroeder said.

"It was indeed a very good meeting," Schroeder said, hailing his visit as "a success."

It has been quite hard for the two leaders to have such a meeting as Bush was angered by Schroeder's strong opposition to the US-led Iraq war last March. Their relations worsened when Germany joined France and Russia in thwarting a United Nations resolution seeking authorization for the war.

Relations between Washington and Berlin were so tense at that time that Bush did not congratulate Schroeder on his Social Democratic Party's successful re-election in September 2002.

However, the relations began to thaw last year when the two leaders met twice, on the sidelines of the Group of Eight and the UN General Assembly and both expressed willingness to patch up their ties.

On Friday, Bush and Schroeder stressed their common grounds while keenly trying to skip their disagreements.

"We both have a great interest in seeing a stable and democratic Iraq develop. And you rightly mentioned the important part that Germany is playing in Afghanistan. It is a contribution that we make. It is a contribution that we also make in the fight against international terrorism, and we intend to continue to makethat contribution," Schroeder said.

Schroeder has indicated that Germany would help Iraq's reconstruction by writing off some of the country's crippling debts and helping train Iraqi police officers. Germany has also expanded its security presence in Afghanistan.

Nonetheless, Germany will stand by its decision of not sending troops to Iraq, although German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said earlier this month that Germany would not stand in the way ofNATO deploying in Iraq.

It is not immediately clear whether Schroeder's goodwill talks would help make progress in economic issues such as stopping the slide of the US dollar against the euro, gaining Iraq's reconstruction subcontracts for Germany, as well as spurring German exports.

However, the best yield for the German leader's visit may be the resumption of good relations with the United States and more importantly, with President Bush.

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