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Germany-U.S. Relation Sours Over Iraq, Hitler Comparison
Aired September 23, 2002 - 14:04 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The elections in Germany are over. Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, wants to repair strained relations with the U.S. The departure of a minister who was quoted comparing as President Bush to Adolf Hitler may help.
CNN's Chris Burns joins us now from Berlin with more on damage control that has taken place there -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra. Well, if you look over my shoulder, the Bundestag there is controlled by Gerhard Schroeder tonight because, in great part, because he pushed that issue on Iraq, telling German voters that he would not send German troops to a U.S.- backed attack on Iraq. And that having put him offer the top by just about 10 seats in that parliament.
So Schroeder having capitalized on that, but now, today, after causing serious strains in relations with Washington. He has taken the first move as reelected chancellor to try to do damage control: accepting the resignation of the justice minister who said that Bush was like Hitler in the sense that he was pursuing this war talk against Iraq in order to divert attention away from domestic issues. That is something that, of course, raised the ire of Washington. Schroeder saying today that he didn't believe that there would be any long-damage to relations between Washington and Berlin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): I think the basis of relationships between Germany and the United States are so secure that these anxieties which also appear in Germany during the election campaign are without foundation. I always said that an objective difference of opinion must never become a personal matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
But no congratulations from Washington for the victory by Gerhard Schroeder. In fact, the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, saying he is no mood to congratulate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I have no comment on the German elections' outcome. But I would have to say that the way it was conducted was notably unhelpful. And as the White House indicated has had the effect of poisoning of the relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BURNS: Keep in mind, however, over my shoulder, the chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, managed to kick out the former communist out of this parliament in yesterday's election by seizing on their issue, which was the Iraq issue -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Chris Burns, live from Berlin. Thanks, Chris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 23, 2002 - 14:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The elections in Germany are over. Germany's chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, wants to repair strained relations with the U.S. The departure of a minister who was quoted comparing as President Bush to Adolf Hitler may help.
CNN's Chris Burns joins us now from Berlin with more on damage control that has taken place there -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra. Well, if you look over my shoulder, the Bundestag there is controlled by Gerhard Schroeder tonight because, in great part, because he pushed that issue on Iraq, telling German voters that he would not send German troops to a U.S.- backed attack on Iraq. And that having put him offer the top by just about 10 seats in that parliament.
So Schroeder having capitalized on that, but now, today, after causing serious strains in relations with Washington. He has taken the first move as reelected chancellor to try to do damage control: accepting the resignation of the justice minister who said that Bush was like Hitler in the sense that he was pursuing this war talk against Iraq in order to divert attention away from domestic issues. That is something that, of course, raised the ire of Washington. Schroeder saying today that he didn't believe that there would be any long-damage to relations between Washington and Berlin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): I think the basis of relationships between Germany and the United States are so secure that these anxieties which also appear in Germany during the election campaign are without foundation. I always said that an objective difference of opinion must never become a personal matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
But no congratulations from Washington for the victory by Gerhard Schroeder. In fact, the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, saying he is no mood to congratulate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I have no comment on the German elections' outcome. But I would have to say that the way it was conducted was notably unhelpful. And as the White House indicated has had the effect of poisoning of the relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BURNS: Keep in mind, however, over my shoulder, the chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, managed to kick out the former communist out of this parliament in yesterday's election by seizing on their issue, which was the Iraq issue -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Chris Burns, live from Berlin. Thanks, Chris.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
