BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME:

France Says U.S. Elections Mark New Step in Ties (PA News, 11/03/04)

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier saluted American democracy today and said that, whoever the winner, the US presidential election marked a new step in trans-Atlantic ties.

Speaking before the results of the tight US race were known, Barnier said he “takes off his hat to American democracy,” praising the “formidable mobilisation and a debate that interested the entire world.”

“We’re going to work with the American administration, Barnier said. “We have lots to do on current crises: Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, the challenges of the African continent, to rebuild, to renovate trans-Atlantic relations.”

Whoever wins, “this is a new step that starts at a very important moment for the world.”

Barnier said that the United States and Europe “need each other.”

Jean Chirac will be wearing a W's My Daddy shirt by Friday, while Gerhard Schroeder's will read, "W Stands for Whoopass", Berlin underscores strength of ties to Washington (Expatica, 3 November 2004)

With election projections pointing to a victory by George W. Bush in the race to the White House, Germany's Minister of the Interior Otto Schily emphasised Wednesday Berlin's good working relationship with the US Republican Administration and insisted Germany would help to stabilise Iraq.

Schily told German television that there was close-cooperation between Washington and Berlin on the war on terror as well as good personal ties between Bush and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 3, 2004 8:44 AM