Instead of bowing in front of the German flag according to the international protocol, Singapore's Prime Minister walked on and left Chancellor Merkel behind.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, bows in front of the German flag during the welcoming ceremony with military honours for Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, center, in the Chancellory in Berlin on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005.
Instead of bowing in front of the German flag according to the international protocol Singapore's Prime Minister kept on walking and left Chancellor Merkel behind.
It was Merkel's first welcoming ceremony with military honours for an international guest after being elected Chancellor.
Achtung....more paisehness after the hanging of the aussie...Do the soldiers in the background look as though they want to load some live rounds and be trigger-happy? Heh...Thankfully the Third Reich is long over...*whew*
International protocol is just a bunch of fat books...very boring to read but it's pretty much standard stuff. The protocol officer was supposed to be in charge of briefing the PM before every and any event. Some fellow countrymen actually feel that as a seasoned Minister and General, such are stuff that should come so natural to him. But I guess he's only human...and human do err under the most unthinkable or unforgiveable circumstances. And let's not forget that much as he's a "seasoned" Minister, he's still a "newbie" PM. You still feel that doesn't excused him? Well...*shrugs*
Wonder if any heads will roll after this incident.
*Photos courtesy of AP News*
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