- Title: GERMANY: SCHROEDER PRESS CONFERENCE ON U.S. TROOPS, OIL PRICES, ADOPTED CHILD.
- Date: 18th August 2004
- Summary: (U4) BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 18, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE 2. VARIOUS OF REPORTERS SEATED 3. SCHROEDER SEATED 4. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 5. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (ON OIL PRICES) SAYING: "The German economy is on a stable path to growth and the risks from the difficult development of the oil price are not yet feeding through to the situation in the global economy and in Germanys' export sector. Of course one must watch developments very carefully and this is being done. We hope that we wont see a serious impairment of global growth." 6. PAN ACROSS REPORTERS TO SCHROEDER 7. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (ON U.S. TROOP WITHDRAWALS FROM EUROPE) SAYING: "Of course we were involved in the decision making process, not the internal one, but of course there have been consultations. This is about a shift away from troop contingents whose primary goal was the Cold War to more flexibility. In this context, there will be a reduction in troops. This was discussed with the German government and so it came as no surprise." 8. PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES 9. SIDE SHOT OF SCHROEDER 10. REPORTERS LISTENING 11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (ON HIS RECENTLY ADOPTED CHILD) SAYING: "Regarding the personal question: I can confirm to you that we have adopted a child. But I am absolutely sure that you will all understand that I will not make any comments beyond that." 12. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAA6A2SU2TFCM5I387KH96HUVFC
- Story Text: German Chancellor Shroeder comments on the effects
of oil prices on the German economy, U.S. troops leaving
Europe and his adopted child.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on
Wednesday (August 18) it was important to carefully
monitor oil costs but that record-high crude prices were
not yet affecting economic growth.
"The risks from the difficult development of the oil
price are not yet feeding through to the situation in the
global economy and in Germanys export sector," Schroeder
said at a news conference.
"Of course one must watch developments very carefully
and this is being done," he added. "We hope that we won't
see a serious impairment of global growth," he said, adding
Germany profited from a strong world economy.
Oil prices surged to a new high of 47 U.S. dollars
(USD) a barrel on Wednesday after a new threat by rebel
militia against Iraqi oil facilities and as the United
States said inflation had stayed in check despite rising
energy costs.
Schroeder also commented on plans by U.S. President
George W. Bush who on Monday announced the return home up
to 70,000 troops and 100,000 family members from Europe and
Asia within a decade. Most would be recalled from Europe,
including about 30,000 troops in two heavy divisions in
Germany.
"This is about a shift away from troop contingents whose primary
goal was the Cold War to more flexibility. This was
discussed with the German government and so it came as no
surprise", Schroeder said.
On a personal note, Schroeder for the first time
confirmed that he and wife Doris Schroeder-Koepf had
recently adopted a 3-year-old girl who lives with them at
their family home in the northern German city of Hannover.
"We have adopted a child. But I am absolutely sure that
you will all understand that I will not make any comments
beyond that," Schroeder said. Newspaper reports said the
child is from St. Petersburg, Russia and that Schroeder and
his wife went to pick up the girl during a private trip
there several weeks ago.
gnm/jrc
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