Germany to repair relations with US
MARIT RUUDA
17.11.2003 @ 09:19 CET
Before US Secretary of State Colin Powell travels to Brussels on Tuesday to meet all the EU foreign ministers, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, will today hold a private meeting with Mr Powell.
Mr Fischer is making an effort to repair relations with the Bush administration, which were badly damaged when Germany sided with France in opposing the war on Iraq.
JOSCHKA FISCHER - the German Foreign Minister is set to repair relations with the Bush administration (Photo: European Commission)
Also, the German Foreign Minister is expected to make an effort to show Washington that Berlin's close relationship with Paris does not undermine the transatlantic relationship or the NATO alliance.
During his visit to Washington, Mr Fischer is also set to meet US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in Washington.
On Tuesday (18 November) Mr Powell is going to participate for the first time in the Council of 25 EU foreign ministers. Among other issues, Mr Powell is going to discuss with the European ministers the European Security and Defence Plans (ESDP).
The US has already said in the past that it is ready to share defence capabilities and planning structures that already exist within NATO with the Europeans.
