European Statesmen are generally thought of as urbane, sophisticated, and dignified. Well, perhaps not always.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi were photographed in early August, laughing heartily during a grip and grin session intended to show that one of this summer's sillier flaps is over, at least for now.
It began in July when officials of both countries blurted out publicly what they very likely think privately. The ground was laid when the German magazine DerSpiegel ran a cover photo of Berlusconi labeled "The Godfather."
Then, as Berlusconi assumed the presidency of the European Parliament, a German deputy, Martin Schulz, heckled the Italian leader and business tycoon for benefiting from an immunity law shielding him from corruption charges.
Berlusconi shot back that a movie about Nazi concentration camps was being filmed in Italy and that Schulz would be an ideal choice to play a guard. The Germans were even further outraged when, while trying to apologize, Berlusconi said, "The deputy reminded him of another Schulz of Hogan's Heroes." Then Italy's junior tourism minister launched himself into the fray, describing German tourists as arrogant invaders who gulp beer, stuff themselves with potatoes and hold burping contests.
Germans spend $10 billion in Italy a year and account for 40% of its visitors. One of them is Schroeder, who cancelled his regular summer vacation there. Cooler heads intervened, the junior tourism minister was eased out, and a visit for Schroeder and Berlusconi to the opera in Verona was arranged.
Then Berlusconi cancelled at the last minute, saying he did not want to detract from the opera in Verona by attracting leftist demonstrators.
Schroeder went anyway with European commission president Romano Perodi, a former Italian prime minister and possible challenger to Berlusconi in 2006.
The two leaders can now turn their attention to more mundane issues, like admitting ten new nations to the European Union and writing a European constitution.
For now, it looks like the summer fun is over, even for statesmen.
