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CNN Live At Daybreak

President Bush in Germany Today on First Stop of Week-long European Tour

Aired May 23, 2002 - 05:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In other news this morning, President Bush is in Germany today on the first stop of his week long European tour. While the president is scheduled to address German law makers, voices in the street are already being raised against him.

CNN's Kelly Wallace is with the president in Berlin. She joins us live this morning -- good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.

Well, at this very hour President Bush meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The president, though, definitely having a chance to address his critics later today when he speaks before Germany's parliament. The president facing a skeptical crowd, as many here are concerned about exactly where the president wants to take the war on terror and whether he would take a go it alone approach when it comes to dealing with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Now, the president starting this day with a visit with Germany's President Rau. The president and the first lady arriving at Bellevue Palace, greeted there by President Rau and Mrs. Rau.

This was once a guest house of the Nazi government, now the official residence for the German president, although President Rau has opted to live elsewhere.

Aides say the president will use this visit on this day to Germany to thank the Germans and other Europeans for their support with the war on terror but also to make the case that this war is far from over.

Now, the president's visit to Berlin got off to a very informal start. Wednesday evening he was greeted by German Chancellor Schroeder at a cafe not too far from the Brandenburg Gate, which once separated East from West. The two men enjoying some apple strudel and ice cream and coffee and, of course, getting down to serious business at this hour, discussing a range of issues, including Iraq.

The president's visit, Carol, as you said, met with protests. Thousands taking to the streets on Wednesday and also on Tuesday. The majority of the protests peaceful, but some violence erupting late Wednesday as a number of protesters clashing with police. Most of the people out on the streets demonstrating against Mr. Bush's policies, the sense that he could take a go it alone approach when it comes to Iraq, when it comes to trade, when it comes to the environment.

Now, just about two hours from now the president and Chancellor Schroeder will go before reporters. Expect them to take a number of questions, questions probably on those protests, on Iraq. And also, Carol, it will be the first time that Mr. Bush is going before reporters since the news came out last week that he was briefed in early August about the possibility that Osama bin Laden's followers might try to hijacking American airplanes -- back to you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Kelly, did they expect quite so many protesters? Twenty thousand protesters, that's a lot of protesters.

WALLACE: You know, it's interesting, the president, even his top aides, asked about the protests. They say look, this is a sign of a healthy democracy, that people should be able to get out there and make their points known. The president, though, saying that he is very much aware of these protests. U.S. officials saying that this president is not going to take a go it alone approach, that he is here to talk and listen to the allies, that he very much believes in alliances.

But a big message that the president will try to get through, Carol, is that he needs support from allies for this ongoing war on terror -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Kelly Wallace reporting live from Berlin this morning, thank you.

WALLACE: Sure.

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