Posted on 04/03/2003 3:53:15 AM PST by Michael81Dus
Q: Many of your fellow-party members fear for the US-German-friendship, you too?
Kohl: The government cannot destroy the US-German-friendship, because the foundation is too deep. Even if the relations to the US are horribly damaged: The damage is not irreparable. It will take more time than one election term to heal the damage. One cannot order trust, it can only grow - that is valid for the political as well as the private life. The whole debate in Germany is full of emotions by a havoc wreaking anti-americanism of the political left. Many of those, who today sit between the rows of the government have demonstrated against America in the 60´s and 70´s. I just remember to the debate about Pershing II in the early 80´s. Gerhard Schröder, Johannes Rau (President) and Joschka Fischer are the best-known representatives of that Anti-Americanism.
Q: Today, many young protestors demonstrate on the streets...
Kohl: Most the youth lack a historical understanding. I don´t reproach them with that. It´s important to improve our knowledge of history. It is true, that these demonstrations would not have taken place, if not the Americans had stood beside us in hard times. I remind the Berlin Airlift and the great support of our american friends for our reunification. It is deeply wrong to forget that now. But I´m also not blind for the faults of the Americans. My idea of friendship is, that one can talk about everything openly among friends. That´s valid for both sides.
Q: Gerhard Schröder says that, too.
Kohl: He has never been a friend of America. He has committed on his position to Iraq during the elcection campaigns on market places, he did not seek for a dialogue with Washington. He has proven his aversion to America during every single speech. That is why he and his government will never get a personal contact to Washington. (...)
Q: Had you supported the war, if you were in office - even against the vast majority of the people?
Kohl: Saddams regime is one of the most horrible worldwide. With his weapons, he is a threat to the whole region - including Israel - what we Germans can not close our eyes for. There have been 17 UN-resolutions calling Hussein to disarm and to cooperate with the UN. He didn´t follow one of them. Then it must come to a point, when someone must act - and I do support that.
Q: So you had voted with America in the UN Security Council?
Kohl: I had supported the American position. And I had tried to get in contact with our european and american friends long before. Of course I had met with the US president during these decisive weeks. That´s why a different situation would have come out.
Q: You referred to faults of the US. What did you mean with that?
Kohl: No question, some of the US representatives have made some psychological faults. Europeans are sensible in a special way; Washington disregarded that. Comments of some Secretaries like the one of "old Europe" are improper as well as the european comments of the "Texanian Cowboy". Sometimes, the American view on Europe and the European view on America are really dumb.
Q: The gap between America and Europe is growing...
Kohl: That won´t last. The day after the end of the Iraq-war will lead to a solution in the entire Mid-East. We need a kind of Marshall-plan, in which we and Europe will play an important role. Of course I want Israel living within secure borders, but even the Palestinians need a chance for their own state. The worst case is, when religious extremism and social misery combine.
Q: After the Iraq-war, will there be a central conflict between the "multilateral Europe" and the "unilateral US"?
Kohl: No. That problem will be solved. He who sits in Washington and dreams of being the new Rome and the world will follow his drummer, lives beside reality. There is no "pax americana". The multipolare world developed within the last years. Think of Russia, China, India, Indonesia or South America and Europe, to name a few.
Q: The EU is completely divided on its foreign policy.
Kohl: That´s true. It´s really bad. Though, I´m optimistic when thinking of Europes future. We have a new generation (...) . But for this generation, Europe is a matter of course. It is their Europe.
(...)
My translation of this paragraph:
Kohl: Several representatives of the American Government have made, without question, a whole row of psychological mistakes. The Europeans have their own sensibilities; Washington didn't pay enough attention to that. Comments of particular ministers, that are coming out of Washington, such as that of "old Europe", are just as foolish as the European comments of the "Texas cowboy who shoots from the hip". Sometimes the European image of the Americans and the American image of the Europeans are really dumb.
"Die Welt"..Kohl: Gerhard Schröder ist ein Anti-Amerikaner
I'd say Rummy got under Helmut's skin. Too bad.
There's another thread here:
Kohl warns U.S. against ruling world "like Romans"
longjack
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