BERLIN (AFP)--Germany's Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu
Guttenberg flew to the U.S. Sunday for talks with officials over
saving Opel, the crisis-hit subsidiary of automaker General Motors
(GM) which employs 26,000 in Germany.
Guttenberg will meet banking officials in New York Sunday before
heading to Washington for talks with his U.S. counterpart -
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geither - and GM Chief Executive Rick
Wagoner Tuesday, Berlin said.
The government is wrestling with GM's request for EUR3.3 billion
in government funds from Germany and other Europe countries where
it has factories.
Opel has presented a "restructuring plan" which has met with a
cool reception from the German authorities.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week the government would
only assist struggling companies if it can be shown the "advantages
for people in Germany are greater than the damage."
She said in an interview with German radio station
Deutschlandfunk broadcast Sunday that Guttenberg would ask GM
bosses for ideas on how they could partially spin off Opel into a
new subsidiary.
"If we can find an investor who gives us the impression there is
a positive future for Opel in Europe, then we will see whether we
in the Federal Government can help with the instruments we have,
for example guarantees," she added.
Germany has said there are still "a lot of unanswered questions"
surrounding GM's plan and expects talks to last "several more
weeks."