Rumsfeld practises charm on 'old Europe'
HONOR MAHONY
11.02.2005 @ 09:55 CET
The man who famously dubbed France and Germany as belonging to 'old Europe' was in conciliatory form at an informal NATO meeting on the French Riveria on Thursday (10 February).
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld took time to thank both his French hosts and to recall a holiday in the area.
"I want to extend my very warm appreciation to our French hosts for their hospitality", the former Navy fighter pilot told a press conference, according to Reuters.
"Are we getting close to the end ... I'd like to get out of here before I make a mistake"
(Photo: US Department of Defence)
"I guess I first came to Nice in 1951 as a (US Navy) midshipman".
"That's a long time ago. And I've been back many, many times. In fact, the most recent visit here, my wife and I came for a vacation in August 2000, never imagining that I'd end up back in government".
He also had specific words for France and Germany with whom he had been furious in 2002 for being strongly against the US-led war in Iraq.
According to Handelsblatt, the 72-year old said "I have experienced these highs and lows within NATO for years. They even have a certain rhythm. It is not surprising that from time to time there are disagreements and differing points of view".
"Every country is both a sovereign state that makes its own decisions as well as a member of a very successful union. I believe that countries always make decisions in their own interest".
The past is forgotten
For his part, German defence minister Peter Struck said, "For the discussion concerning Iraq, the past is forgotten. Everyone is looking ahead, also those who criticised us for our position. We have a normal good relationship with America and definitely with Great Britain. And that is a good basis for further work".
At the NATO meeting, Mr Rumsfeld pushed NATO countries to speed up the Alliance's mission to train and equip Iraqi security forces.
Although NATO was torn apart by the division over the Iraq war, Mr Rumsfeld said it was "an enormously valuable alliance".
Towards the end of the press conference, Mr Rumsfeld remarked to his spokesman, Lawrence Di Rita, "Are we getting close to the end, Larry? I'd like to get out of here before I make a mistake".
