Schröder Swaps Diplomacy for Cultural Duties

After concluding bridge-building talks with President George W. Bush at the White House on Friday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder travelled onto Jackson, Mississippi for the ceremonial opening of "The Glory of Baroque Dresden" exhibition.

After Schröder's motorcade arrived shortly before 5 p.m. local time, the German chancellor took a quick tour of the exhibition, the first North American display of Dresden treasures in a quarter of a century.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said through a translator, "it is a special honor for me to open the exhibition The Glory of Baroque Dresden in Jackson today." Schroder said America had always been a friend to Germany in times of trouble, including the years that Dresden was behind the Iron Curtain.

"I think this is the first time a head of state…I mean as large as Germany or one of our big trading partners… has come to Jackson," said former Jackson Mayor Kane Ditto, a board member of the Mississippi Commission for International Cultural Exchange to waiting reporters. "I think it's tremendous."

Now that the chancellor has given it his blessing, the Glory of Baroque Dresden exhibition opens to the public on Monday. The exhibition runs until September 6.

His visit comes at the end of what is seen to have been a successful visit to the United States. After his 30-minute meeting with President Bushin the Oval Office, Schröder held a press conference with the president before a scheduled lunch looking relaxed and at ease with one another, a sea change from the bitterness that dominated the transatlantic relationship during the lead-up to the Iraq war and for a significant time afterwards.

"We didn't talk about the past, but about the present and the future," said Schröder, who described his first White House visit in two years as a success. "The challenges of the 21st century can only be met together."

Bush had made no secret of his irritation with Schröder for Germany's opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and what he considered the anti-American tone of Schröder's 2002 reelection campaign. Bush acknowledged after their meeting that the two still did not see eye to eye on the Iraq war, but said they did agree that it was important for Iraq be free and peaceful.

"We have differences in the past but there's nothing wrong with friends having differences," Bush said. "We are both committed to put the differences behind us and moving forward."

The thaw between the two countries began last year, when the two leaders met twice, once at the Group of Eight summit and once at the United Nations. At the White House on Friday, both stressed the strong friendship between their nations and their own personal relationship. During the meeting with reporters, Bush and Schröder were all smiles and frequently leaned toward one another as they spoke.

"The chancellor has got a good sense of humor, and he's able to make me laugh," Bush said. "Someone who can make me laugh is easy to be with."

Commitment to Afghanistan

Schröder reaffirmed his commitment to Afghanistan, where Germany has some 2,000 troops stationed. Germany is training Afghan police officers, aiding reconstruction efforts, and is the largest contributor to the international security force there. Schröder said he considered Afghanistan to be Germany's frontline in the war on terror, and Bush praised Germany's work there.

Schröder has repeatedly refused to send German troops into Iraq, but he did say he would work with the Americans on the country's future.

"We both have a great interest in seeing a stable, democratic Iraq develop," Schröder said.

Dollar worries not discussed publicly

One topic that was absent from the press conference was Germany's concern about the weakness of the U.S. dollar, a possible future dispute between the two countries. Germany, a country heavily dependent on its exports, does not want to see the dollar fall any more against the euro, since that would make its exports more expensive. If the dollar continues its plunge, it could endanger Germany's nascent economic recovery.

The euro has been climbing steadily against the dollar over the past year and reached an all-time high of more than $1.29 last week.

Although the U.S. still publicly says it is following a strong dollar policy, it is doing little to back up its word. Analysts say the Bush administration is likely comfortable with the weak dollar, since it makes U.S. exports cheaper and helps boost the American economy. They says the administration will not likely intervene in the near future.

However, in a speech Schröder gave on Thursday at the Council of Foreign Relations in Chicago, he warned that global trade could be harmed by further fluctuations in the exchange rate. Before he left for the U.S., Schröder had told reporters he intended to express his dissatisfaction with the current exchange rate.

Both benefit

The two leaders' rapprochement could provide needed benefits to both as the meeting comes when both are facing tough times politically.

Bush has been experiencing sinking approval ratings and faces a potentially bruising reelection campaign. His presumptive challenger, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, has accused the president of alienating key U.S. allies. Rebuilding bridges with Germany could help counter that argument.

Bush is also looking for international help in his efforts to rebuild Iraq and improve the security situation there. The instability in the region could hurt his reelection chances and the more allies he can get on board to help calm the region more quickly, the better.

For Schröder, who is facing low approval ratings at home and recently resigned from the chairmanship of the Social Democratic Party, the meeting with Bush focuses attention on international affairs and helps him polish his image as a statesman.