Omaha World Herald wrote:
Strong economic ties link Germany, Nebraska
Economic ties like those between Germany and Nebraska are helping to attract foreign investment to the state and to mend the U.S.-German alliance that the Iraq war damaged, according to a German delegation visiting the Omaha area Monday.
Atlantic Bridge, a group of German parliamentary and civic leaders, praised Nebraska's efforts to land Claas Omaha LLC in Nebraska. The group toured the company's combine factory in Sarpy County.
State Sen. Pam Brown said the Claas factory marries the agricultural and high-tech industries that state economic incentives attempt to draw.
"Claas is a wonderful example of the way you make a connection and build on it. Germany is much more interested in Nebraska now because of Claas," she said.
Theo Freye, president of Claas North America, told the German delegation that Nebraska's central location, its strong work ethic and financial incentives provided under the state's LB 775 program had lured Claas to Omaha.
Stephan Meyer, a member of the German Parliament, applauded Nebraska's efforts to persuade the company to locate here.
"I'm really impressed because of the dynamism and positive thinking, especially concerning the public-private partnerships. This is a point we could improve on a lot (in Germany)," he said.
The incentives given the company in 1998 ensure state tax incentives of at least $14.4 million.
The German group visited as Nebraska prepares for its first international diplomatic conference Wednesday, intended to showcase the state for delegates from 31 nations.
"We definitely will see more and more international delegations coming to Omaha," said Dacia Kruse, manager of government affairs for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the delegation in conjunction with Claas.
The delegation, consisting of nine members or former members of the German government, also touched on the Iraq war.
Delegates agreed that relations between the United States and Germany have improved since 2002, when German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder and President Bush sparred over whether war was necessary to make Iraq comply with U.N. sanctions.
"The Germans should know we need America, because there's no united Europe without America. If you try to position us against America, you will always divide Europe," said Eckart von Klaeden, member of the German Parliament.
Von Klaeden criticized Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac for dividing the U.N. Security Council as the world body debated whether force, in addition to weapons inspections, was necessary.
He added that while it remained unlikely that Germany would join the United States military forces in Iraq under any circumstances, the German government thinks a stable Iraq is in the world's best interest.
Others in the delegation said more multilateral engagement with the world is necessary for the United States to fully restore relations with its European allies.
"The (Atlantic Bridge) is intensifying the relations between the U.S. and Germany, but nobody likes the war, especially Germany. It depends on the people (in power). Bush and Schroeder have problems with each other. I think (Democratic nominee John) Kerry could change it," said Claudia Winterstein, a member of the German Parliament.
Christian Lange, also a Parliament member, agreed that the Iraq war had alienated European leaders. He said a new U.S. administration would be needed to improve relations.
"Waves of sympathy to the U.S. came after 9/11, but it's changed completely because the U.S. went to war in Iraq," he said.
Winterstein said that while many Europeans would like to see Kerry win, she expects Bush to be re-elected.
"With Kerry you have a new person, you start at zero. But I think Bush will win because the American people want certainty. They know what he likes to do," she said.
