In a letter made public by Chirac’s office, the French leader said he “could count” on Schroeder’s commitment at the head of the German government “so that our two countries, which have never been so close as today, continue together to work for a (European) Union ever closer and ever stronger.”

In a handwritten sign-off, Chirac, who is 71, added: “Very warmly and with all my wishes!”

Schroeder was born April 7, 1944 in the northern German city of Mossenberg.

© AFP
                                                                 Subject: French news