In a moving 90-minute meeting with TIME Bonn Bureau Chief William McWhirter, West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl replied to criticisms of the Bitburg visit with an emotional assessment of his country and its relations with the U.S. The Chancellor, in his only formal interview on the subject with the U.S. press, was firm and assertive as he explained why the ceremony must take place. Excerpts:
Q. Mr. Chancellor, why Bitburg? Why is it important to you and to the German people?
A. In these days and hours I have suffered as I have rarely suffered before in my life. Ronald Reagan...
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