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Ugly battles strain Berlin-Hamburg relations
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-11 10:49
BERLIN (Reuters) - A row between Germany's two biggest cities over attempts
to snatch each other's businesses has degenerated into ugly name-calling and
torn open historical rivalries that go beyond just another tale of two
cities.
Local officials in wealthy Hamburg, home to many of Germany's
corporate giants, have even warned Angela Merkel to stay out of their
money-driven tiff while poorer Berlin, scarred by the Cold War, is begging the
new chancellor for help.
"It's the battle of Berlin," read a recent headline in the Hamburger
Abendblatt newspaper. "It's Berlin vs Hamburg."
The fight erupted when Hamburg's authorities said last month that they had
spent five months secretly negotiating with German railway operator Deutsche
Bahn to lure its corporate head office and up to 2,000 jobs from Berlin to the
northern port city.
Berlin, the capital, had previously done some of its own poaching, enticing
Universal Music's German headquarters and gala award ceremonies away from
Hamburg in 2000, as well as MME entertainment company and advertising firm
Scholz & Friends.
Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit ripped into Deutsche Bahn chairman Hartmut
Mehdorn, a Hamburg native, branding him "Rambo" because of the clandestine talks
with Hamburg behind the back of the company's owner, the federal government.
"I was feeling fine until Mehdorn ruined my day," Wowereit said after
learning of the secret talks. He said he was fed up with "Mehdorn the groveller"
and vowed to fight any move.
"No one will stand in his way if Mehdorn wants to pack his bags and go to
Hamburg," Wowereit said. "But the workers of the railways are staying in
Berlin."
Hamburg has offered to sell its lucrative port at a knock-down price to
Deutsche Bahn if the company moves.
Berlin leaders have accused Hamburg of "extortion" while officials in
Germany's second city have threatened to block all legislation in the upper
house of parliament if they don't get their way.
Local newspapers have joined the fray, claiming their respective cities have
better weather conditions, better food, better museums, better zoos, better
entertainment and even better brothels.
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