In your face liberals

BERLIN - New German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed to strengthen relations with the United States and smaller EU nations in rIn an interview with Focus magazine, Merkel also suggested the close links with Russia pursued by her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder, were a lower priority for the new government.emarks released Sunday, a day before her top diplomat heads for Washington. "There will certainly be an intensification of relations with the smaller member states of the European Union. And a more intensive trans-Atlantic relationship," Merkel was quoted as saying in the interview, which is to be published on Monday.