German officials welcome Bush proclamation

BERLIN -- The German government, which is seeking to ease tension with Washington over Iraq, on Sunday welcomed President Bush's proclamation of the annual German-American day as an "expression of the mature friendship" between the two countries.

In his proclamation of the Oct. 6 day marking the contributions of German Americans to the United States, Bush said that "we recognize the important and continuing relationship between Germany and the United States."

"Our friendship was forged after World War II and is based on mutual support and respect," he said Saturday. "Germany showed meaningful support for the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."

The German government welcomed the proclamation as "an expression of the mature friendship that connects the United States with Germany."

That echoed its welcome last week of a letter from Bush to German President Johannes Rau, congratulating Germany on the 12th anniversary of its reunification.

The Bush administration has bristled at Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's unbending opposition to a U.S. military strike against Iraq. White House anger peaked when Schroeder's justice minister reportedly compared Bush to Adolf Hitler, saying he was using war tactics to divert attention from problems at home.

She is not being considered for the new Cabinet.

Bush did not send the standard congratulations on the chancellor's re-election and, while Secretary of State Colin Powell and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer have discussed tentative plans for a visit by Fischer to Washington, no date has yet been set.