Germany says a claim by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that it would clear illegal Roma camps was based on a "misunderstanding".
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle denied the claim by Mr Sarkozy, who had earlier had a row with the European Commission over French deportations of Roma (Gypsies).
But Germany is returning thousands of Roma refugees - many of them children - to Kosovo. They are not EU citizens.
The Roma issue dominated an EU summit.
Since August, France has dismantled about 200 Roma settlements and deported about 1,000 of their inhabitants to Romania and Bulgaria. It has also evicted French nationals from illegal traveller settlements.
France has been accused of violating EU rules on human rights, by allegedly targeting an ethnic group.
Mr Sarkozy said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had told him that Germany would also clear Roma camps, and he added: "We'll see how calm German politics will become then."
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Germany says ... that it would clear illegal Roma camps ...[ Is this fine?]
I think it should be ' Germany said ... that it would clear illegal Roma camps ...'
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle denied the claim by Mr Sarkozy, who had earlier had a row with the European Commission over French deportations of Roma (Gypsies).
But Germany is returning thousands of Roma refugees - many of them children - to Kosovo. They are not EU citizens.
The Roma issue dominated an EU summit.
Since August, France has dismantled about 200 Roma settlements and deported about 1,000 of their inhabitants to Romania and Bulgaria. It has also evicted French nationals from illegal traveller settlements.
France has been accused of violating EU rules on human rights, by allegedly targeting an ethnic group.
Mr Sarkozy said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had told him that Germany would also clear Roma camps, and he added: "We'll see how calm German politics will become then."
.............................................................................................................
Germany says ... that it would clear illegal Roma camps ...[ Is this fine?]
I think it should be ' Germany said ... that it would clear illegal Roma camps ...'