Clinton prepares for Europe visit

President Clinton will visit Germany and Britain on his European trip

Bill Clinton touches down on European soil late on Tuesday at the start of a trip taking in Germany, Britain and Switzerland.

His visit will culminate in the G8 economic summit in Britain, which brings together heads of state from the world's richest and most powerful states.

Mr Clinton will begin his trip in the German capital to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. In May 1948 Russia stopped all land traffic from entering or leaving West Berlin.

The Berlin Blockade was beaten with the help of American pilots

The blockade was successfully beaten thanks to the combined effort of British and American pilots, who ferried in supplies by air for almost a year.

The US President is also expected to tackle major foreign policy issues concerning Europe, including international security, Nato expansion and peace in Northern Ireland.

High on the agenda will be America's role in the Balkans. The US still has 8,000 troops in Bosnia and is concerned about whether it must commit forces in Kosovo as well.

Mr Clinton is also expected to signal his approval of Europe's drive towards a single currency.

Mr Clinton will meet the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair

Monetary union among 11 of the 15 EU states will take place at the start of 1999, and Mr Clinton has given his personal backing to the euro.

He is on record as saying: "From the day I took office I have supported increasing unity within Europe and any specific step that the Europeans might decide to take for themselves, including the common currency."

But his sentiments are not matched by many other high-ranking politicians in America. Many in the House of Congress have grave reservations about the economic impact of monetary union.

US politicians are divided in their opinion of the euro

Defence expert Robin Niblett says much of this is due to America's view of Europe.

"They see Europe in essence not as Britain, but as a group of countries that are still stuck in old-fashioned ways of labour restriction, wage controls and price controls.

"It is the image of a country mired in unemployment, for whom the euro is a crazy gamble."