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Schroeder willing to mend fences with Bush
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Friday announced his willingness - for the first time - to mend fences with US President George W. Bush, following their deep differences over the war in Iraq, media reports said. Asked in a television interview, to be aired on Sunday, if Schroeder would directly approach Bush to help repair the badly damaged bilateral ties, he responded, "I have absolutely no problem with that. There have always been such gestures." Gerhard's the one who peed on our national leg. His feelings have already been expressed. He can be willing to kiss and make up until Doomsday, if not later, and what'll be important is what Bush is willing to do... The German leader pointed out that he would be seeing the American president at the G-8 summit of industrial nations, scheduled to take place June 1 to 3 in Evian, France. "Of course we have to talk then," Schroeder said, insisting that Germany and America will remain close partners with shared values. Maybe they'll talk then. Or maybe Gerhard can go chat with Jacques... Schroeder has not spoken to Bush since their short encounter at NATO's November summit in the Czech capital, Prague. There has been no phone contact between Bush and Schroeder and the US president refused to send the obligatory congratulations after the chancellor eked out a close victory in last fall's parliamentary elections. Schroeder caused American indignation for campaigning on an anti- Iraq war platform and bilateral relations reached a post-world War II low point, after a German cabinet minister — who later resigned — likened Bush to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Maybe it was the fact that Gerhard was unwilling to fire her that had something to do with it. Kinda gave the impression he agreed with her, didn't it? Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-04-04 |
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