The Hindu : International : Disputes with U.S. a matter of the past, says Schroeder

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Thursday, Feb 24, 2005

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International

Disputes with U.S. a matter of the past, says Schroeder

MAINZ (GERMANY), FEB. 23. The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, today held talks here with the U.S. President, George W. Bush, and said Germany's disputes with the U.S. over Iraq were a thing of the past.

A deep rift developed between Mr. Schroeder and Mr. Bush over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, but Mr. Schroeder said both countries now had a common interest in stabilising the country.

``Nobody wants to conceal that we had different opinions about these things in the past, but that is the past,'' Mr. Schroeder said.

``Now our joint interest is that we come to a stable, democratic Iraq.''

Mr. Schroeder said Germany would continue to train Iraqi police and army personnel in the United Arab Emirates and also offered help in rebuilding Iraq's institutions if the new Iraqi administration requests it.

``We'd be very happy to make expertise available when it is about the rebuilding of democratic institutions, whether it be drafting a constitution or the establishment of ministries,'' he added.

Mr. Bush replied: ``I appreciate your kind words about Iraq and the need to put past differences behind us and focus on the people of that country.'' He noted that Germany had agreed to assist Iraq through debt relief and other measures and was careful to play down Berlin's continuing refusal to send troops or train Iraq security forces inside Iraq itself.

``I fully understand the limitations'' Germany faces, Mr. Bush said, adding that Berlin's contributions were ``not limited, they're important.''

Pressure on Iran

The two leaders united in warning Iran against developing a nuclear weapon. ``It's vital that the Iranians hear the world speak with one voice that they shouldn't have a nuclear weapon,'' Mr. Bush said on the second leg of a visit aimed at definitively repairing trans-Atlantic ties damaged by the Iraq war.

``We absolutely agree that Iran must say no to any kind of nuclear weapon, full stop,'' Mr. Schroeder said through an interpreter during a joint news conference. ``They must waive any right to the production of them.''

At the same time, Mr. Bush sought to soothe European worries that he planned to use military force against Iran, saying `all options are on the table,'' but stressing that ``diplomacy is just beginning'' and that ``Iran is not Iraq.''

Mr. Bush has repeatedly praised the diplomatic outreach by Britain, France and Germany, but paired it with increasing impatience at the Islamic republic's response and has steadfastly refused to rule out military force.

Anti-war protests

Some 4,000 anti-war protesters rallied in Mainz, cordoned off by police.

Mr. Bush noted that he had made West Asia peace a central goal of his second term, and Mr. Schroeder praised what he called Washington's ``strong commitment'' to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They also signed off on a joint declaration on promoting environmental protection, particularly in developing countries — a divisive issue in trans-Atlantic relations. — AFP

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