Press Releases

Rice Says United States, Germany Have Turned to a "New Page" (Feb. 8, 2005)

Secretary of state talks with Germany's BILD Zeitung newspaper

The United States and Germany have turned to a "new page" in their relationship after a difficult time due to their disagreement over Iraq, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The foundation of the relationship is so strongly based on common values that it "has re-emerged strong and vibrant and ready to look forward," said Rice February 4 in an interview with Germany's BILD Zeitung newspaper.

In addition to U.S.-German relations, Rice – who was in Germany as part of a weeklong trip to Europe and the Middle East – also responded to questions regarding Iraq, Germany’s international and European roles, Russia and Iran.

She said Germany and the United States understand that "whatever the differences about how we got to where we are, that we have obligations and we have requirements now to build a strong and free and democratic Iraq, a stable Iraq, that we have an obligation to promote reform in the Middle East, that we have an obligation to deal with the threats of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, proliferation."

"Germany is doing a good deal to deepen our relationship," Rice said, giving as an example German help to train Iraqi police forces in the United Arab Emirates. She added that she believes German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is "prepared to do more in that regard."

"We understand that there are limitations on what Germany can do for a number of reasons," she said. "But there is plenty that Germany can do, and so one of the things that we talked about is what more can be done to support the Iraqi people."

Rice vigorously defended the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime as "a good strategic decision."

"We are now beginning, very slowly, but beginning to see what the future could look like with an Iraq that fights terrorists, doesn't harbor and help to sustain them, or pay suicide bombers $25,000 for killing Israelis," she said. "We've begun to see what it could be to have an Iraq that is democratic and trying to overcome all of its internal differences by democratic means rather than by oppression. … It's a young and fragile Iraq that is on the road to democracy, but I would far rather deal with the potential that is there now, with this fragile new Iraq, than live with the false stability of the reign of a brutal dictator like Saddam Hussein."

Asked about Germany’s role within Europe, Rice said she hopes Germany will "remain committed to the harmony of transatlantic and European Union relations."

There should be no contradiction between a European identity and a transatlantic identity, she said.

Regarding Russia, the secretary said she hopes Germany and France will "help in pulling Russia toward the west."

"We need everyone pulling in the same direction to help the Russians understand that the kind of deep integration with Europe and with the transatlantic alliance that we all hope for is most especially, most importantly, based on common values," she said.

Iran also figured prominently in the interview. Rice described Iran as "increasingly out of step" with trends in the region. It is important that the international community give a unified message, she said. "The Iranians need to understand that they cannot be members in good standing of the international community and flaunt and defy their international obligations at the same time."

Rice said the United States will continue to work with the European Three (Britain, France and Germany), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russia and others "to try to get the Iranians to finally live up to those obligations."

Full interview