[Aeternitas]

Merkel hints at support for Blair over economic reform of Europe

By Andrew Grice, Philip Thornton and Stephen Castle

Published: 25 November 2005

Angela Merkel, the new German Chancellor, has put her country's relationship with Britain on an equal footing with its traditionally strong axis with France. In a break with 40 years of tradition, Ms Merkel told a Downing Street press conference after two hours of talks with Mr Blair: "The new German government has a great interest in good and friendly relations toward France, but not just with France but equally so with Great Britain."

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article329182.ece