Strained relations

Relations are strained between the US and Europe

In a HARDtalk interview on 12 February, Karsten Voigt, the German Foreign Ministry's coordinator for German-American relations talks to Tim Sebastian.

Click here to watch the full interview

There seems to be no easing of the strained relations between the United States and Europe over a possible war in Iraq.

The United States has rejected a new proposal from France and Germany to avoid war with Iraq.

The plan includes sending more weapons inspectors into Iraq backed by UN troops.

But Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed the idea as a "diversion, not a solution".

Germany is staunchly against America's position.

Chancellor Schroeder insists the Iraqi crisis must be resolved by the UN Security Council and no-one else.

Karsten Voigt is the German Foreign Ministry's coordinator for German-American relations. Tim Sebastian asks him how difficult his job has become in recent months.

This interview can be watched in full on Wednesday 12 February on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in GMT) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330