U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SEES IN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL A «CHANCE TO TURN A NEW CHAPTER» IN U.S.-GERMAN RELATIONS. THE PRESIDENT TOLD A GERMAN TELEVISION PROGRAM BEING AIRED SUNDAY THAT HE HAD A «GOOD RELATIONSHIP» WITH FORMER CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER, DESPITE HIS OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM OF THE DECISION TO INVADE IRAQ. BUT, BUSH TOLD ARD TELEVISION IN A WHITE HOUSE INTERVIEW TAPED THURSDAY DURING MERKEL'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON, HE HAS FOUND THE NEW CHANCELLOR «REALLY REFRESHING TO WORK WITH.» MERKEL DEFEATED SCHROEDER IN SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS IN GERMANY, THOUGH SHE NOW GOVERNS IN A COALITION WITH SCHROEDER'S PARTY. «NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TURN A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, STRENGTHEN THAT ALLIANCE, STRENGTHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND WORK ON MATTERS THAT WILL MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE,» BUSH SAID IN THE INTERVIEW, RELEASED TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AHEAD OF ITS BROADCAST. «SO I'M THRILLED WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANCELLOR MERKEL _ SHE'S A REALLY INTERESTING PERSON... I FIND HER TO BE CONFIDENT, NOT OVERCONFIDENT, BUT CONFIDENT IN HER BELIEFS AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME.»
