Fischer hails 'crucial' US ties

Fischer's trip has been dubbed Mission Impossible

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has praised the US as his country's most important ally outside Europe.

His comments came during a fence-mending mission to the US, his first visit there since the bitter divide over the Iraq War.

Mr Fischer told reporters in New York that a strong trans-Atlantic bond was key to building stability.

Trans-Atlantic relations are crucial - a cornerstone for peace and stability in 21st century Joschka Fischer German Foreign Minister

"The United States is the most important ally for us outside Europe and for all other European countries it is the same fact," he said.

"Trans-Atlantic relations are crucial - a cornerstone for peace and stability in 21st Century."

Mr Fischer is due to have talks in Washington with US Vice-President Dick Cheney, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

On his last visit to the US, in October, Mr Powell was the only senior US official to speak to him.

Mr Fischer's four-day trip visit to the US is seen as the highest-level effort yet to restore the previously strong relationship.

War differences

The two governments were at odds over Iraq for months. As the US led the push for military action, Germany helped lead a European alliance of states opposed to war.

The US had already been angered that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder used his opposition to US policy to help win re-election last year.

Mr Fischer has described US-German relations as "good and close", but says democracies sometimes have differences which which must be discussed.

Germany, along with another key war opponent France, is still refusing to sent peacekeeping troops to Iraq.

The trip has been dubbed Mission Impossible by one German news magazine.