Central and eastern Europe -- I'll underline it again -- is a curse and blessing at the same time.

For mid-sized suppliers in particular, the setting up of an own production outlet in the vicinity of the final product manufacturer became a question of survival: They had to follow their big customers abroad.

We also create income there that would spur demand for German products. And we integrate central and eastern Europe much more strongly in German economic developments than any other European country can and does.

Our estimates show that a German mid-sized business achieves, on an average, 17 percent of its turnover abroad. Against that, the 15 EU nations (before eastward expansion) are estimated to have had an export average of just 12 percent in 2002.

In the time of FDR, he felt it would not have been politically expedient for him to be seen often in his wheelchair. He thought people would take that as a sign of weakness.

I have a lot of contact with (them) but at the same time I just don't have the time to go to Guadalajara or Costa Rica,