Bush, Schroeder Mend Fences

Bush, Schroeder mend fences

(CNN) --President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Wednesday that they had agreed to work together in Iraq with Germany offering to contribute economic and technical aid to the reconstruction effort.

The two leaders met for the first time in 16 months, after relations between the two countries were strained by Schroeder's outspoken criticism of U.S. policy towards Iraq in the months leading up to the invasion.

"Only the United Nations can guarantee the necessary degree of legitimacy and enabling the people of Iraq to speedily rebuild their country under an independent representative government," Schroeder told the U.N. General Assembly. "My country, Germany, stands ready to support such a process."

Bush and Schroeder met Wednesday morning at U.N. headquarters.

"We've had differences and they're over, and we're going to work together." Bush told reporters after the meeting. "I appreciate his efforts to help Iraq grow to be a peaceful and stable and democratic country." (Full story)

Schroeder said Germany and the rest of Europe had a vested interest in a secure and stable Iraq, and said Germany was willing to help train Iraqi military and police forces.

Bush met Tuesday with French President Jacques Chirac, after both had made speeches to the U.N. General Assembly. (Full story)

Senior U.S. officials said Bush and Chirac still disagreed over the timeline for turning control of Iraq to Iraqi leaders, but said Chirac confirmed he would "not stand in the way" of a new U.N. resolution that would expand a multinational force in Iraq.