Row brews between Sarkozy and Merkel over Roma (Roundup)

Sep 17, 2010, 15:13 GMT

Paris/Berlin - A diplomatic dispute between France and German grew sharper Friday as officials in Berlin again denied that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had told President Nicolas Sarkozy that she was planning to clear Roma camps in Germany.

Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Friday that, contrary to what Sarkozy had claimed, Merkel had not said a single word in Brussels about Roma in Germany, 'not during the summit itself, nor outside the meeting.'

The French president told reporters in Brussels Thursday that Merkel had told him she was planning to clear illegal Roma settlements in Germany, just as he and his government were doing in France.

Sarkozy made the comment after angry criticism by other EU nations of France's policy of repatriating thousands of Roma people to Bulgaria and Romania.

Since the beginning of the year, France has deported more than 8,300 Romanians and Bulgarians, most if not all of them Roma, or Gypsies.

At the heart of the now Europe-wide debate was a circular, issued on August 5 by the French interior ministry, that exhorted prefects to dismantle at least half of the 600 illegal camps throughout the country, 'in priority those of the Roma.'

Seibert also denied that the two leaders ever discussed whether Germany would expel Kosovo Roma back to Kosovo. Asked if the claim that Sarkozy 'made it up' was correct, he said he did not want words put in his mouth.

A European diplomat who wanted not to be named said 'nothing like' such a remark had been made by a German, and added: 'Sarkozy made it up.'

Seibert said Berlin could see 'no explanation' for Sarkozy's version of his conversation with Merkel. But Berlin did not want the matter 'exaggerated' into a dispute. Franco-German relations remained close, he said.

His statements on the dispute followed those of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who told Deutschlandfunk public radio Thursday, 'There was no such decision (to round up and expel Roma). I am guessing this involves a misunderstanding.'

He said such a decision 'would be in breach of Germany's constitutional order.'

Sarkozy's own foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, appeared to contradict his boss Friday, telling Europe 1 radio, 'I did not witness (such a discussion), although I was present the entire time.'

Nor did Sarkozy ever tell him he had had such a conversation with Merkel. 'I don't know if it took place somewhere off on the side,' Kouchner said.

Asked which of the two leaders was not telling the truth, Kouchner replied, 'History will decide that.'

Sarkozy's office at the Elysee Palace has so far declined to comment on the issue.