SZ: Critics even say that the ECB and President Trichet are against debt restructuring because you have taken too many risks onto your books and would then need to write down losses. Trichet: That is ridiculous. The integrity of the ECB and the Eurosystem is fundamental and fully guaranteed.
SZ: Mr Trichet, you have lived in Germany for eight years and so know both the Germans and the French very well, nations that were enemies until the end of the Second World War. How well do you think these two core euro area countries get on now?