Germany, U.S. Show Signs of Making Amends

After a week when tensions between Germany and the United States took center stage in world affairs, it looked as if the worst was over by the weeekend as both countries showed signs of trying to make amends.

On Friday, Germany was among five countries elected to the U.N. Security Council. Together with Spain, Pakistan, Chile and Angola, Germany joined the 15-nation Security Council as a rotating member. The two-year terms begin in January.

In contrast to the beginning of the week, when U.S. President George W. Bush did not offer the typical post-election congratulations to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, on Friday the U.S. representative to the U.N. was one of the first to congratulate German U.N. Ambassador Hanns Schumacher.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Friday that he was confident that the dispute with the United States over a possible attack on Iraq would be resolved. The dispute arose after Schröder, in the course of campaigning for re-election, said he would not support an attack.

"The solid foundation to our relationship (with the United States), the close cultural ties as well as the economic links - that's what really counts and it will carry us through," Fischer told ARD television. "I'm certain the irritations will be removed."

Fischer said he plans to visit Washington in October. A States Department spokesman said, however, that no official visit has been scheduled.

Nonetheless, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer's statement that "the United States will continue to work well with Germany" went a long way toward easing tensions. "We'll work through any strains," Fleischer said. "It's just going to sort itself out over time"

Karsten Voigt, Germany's coordinator for German-American relations, pointed out that relations between the two countries have never been free of conflict.