October 4, 2002	Friday	Rajab 26, 1423

BERLIN, Oct 3: Tensions between the United States and Germany over Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s firm anti-war stance on Iraq eased on Thursday when President George W. Bush congratulated Germany on the 12th anniversary of unification.

Bush, who pointedly ignored Schroeder’s re-election two weeks ago, ended a period of chilled silence marring the pivotal relationship with a warm letter to President Johannes Rau praising close German-America ties over the last 200 years.

Even though Schroeder and his centre-left government remain opposed to any “military adventures” in Iraq, government officials in Berlin leapt upon the letter from Bush as a signal the period of friction between the allies was over.

“I extend to you and the people of Germany my warmest wishes on the anniversary of German unification,” wrote Bush after top administration officials said last month German-American relations were “poisoned” by Schroeder’s anti-war position.

“The German and American people have ties that date back to the establishment of our nation. Over the past half century, those bonds were deepened by a shared commitment to democratic values...The end of communism and fall of the Berlin Wall were a great success for both our nations.”

Germany on Thursday celebrated the 12th anniversary of its 1990 reunification, which followed the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the demise of communism in East Germany.

Stand on IRAQ: Bush, who according to German media reports had declined to accept post-election calls from Schroeder, went further in his letter to point out that millions of Americans have lived in Germany since 1945 as soldiers, students and businessmen.

“Their friendships with Germans and fond memories of their experiences form a strong basis for facing the new challenge ahead,” Bush wrote.

Schroeder’s coordinator for US policy, Karsten Voigt, seized upon Bush’s letter as evidence the close German-American alliance was still in tact even if Berlin has a different position on Iraq. German diplomats said the letter from Bush went far beyond the normal perfunctory congratulations.

“The American expectations that Germany would be a close ally are still being fulfilled and will continue to be valid,” Voigt said. “The treatment of Iraq is still a problem for Germany and the United States. It’s time for the weapons inspectors to return, not threaten military strikes.” Speaking in Paris late on Wednesday evening after a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, Schroeder said he would not alter his position opposing war in Iraq.

“We defined our position before the election,” Schroeder said. “After the election in Germany, nothing has changed.”

Despite Bush’s letter, there were still lingering tensions.

On Tuesday, Richard Perle, chairman of the Pentagon’s Defence Policy Board, said Schroeder should quit to mend US- German ties. “Obviously it would be best if he resigned.”—Reuters