Blair looks to mend Anglo-German alliance
Britain’s relationship with Germany should not be disfigured forever by differences of opinion over last year’s US-led war in Iraq, Tony Blair said last night.
The prime minister was speaking after a dinner reception in Berlin – described as “extremely constructive” – with Chancellor Schroeder.
Mr Blair said it was up to Germany whether it committed troops to Iraq.
“That’s very much a matter for Germany and the German government,” he said.
The dinner last night came ahead of the tripartite summit with French president Jacques Chirac in Berlin on February 18th.
Mr Blair told reporters: “Whatever the different positions of our countries in relation to the conflict, everyone wants to see Iraq as a stable, a democratic, a prosperous country.”
The pair also raised issues concerning Afghanistan and the freshly penned European constitution.
“The German contribution is making a big, big difference in that country,” said Mr Blair.
Mr Blair told a news conference he was not interested in creating a “directoire” [directorate] in Europe.
Rather, “I think it is important we try to work at these things together, and that is not in any sense at all to exclude other countries,” he said.
“In a Europe of 25 [member states], I think there will inevitably be attempts to make sure that we can resolve issues and resolve them not simply always operating at 25 but also trying to work at these issues amongst ourselves.”
Mr Schroeder, for his part, said Germany was willing “to make a contribution” to reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Germany had a “strong interest in continuing a sustainable commitment” to Afghanistan, he added.
