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Ernie Speaks Out On Bert-Bin Laden Issue

NEW YORK-- Ernie the muppet is shocked, but not completely surprised by the recent attention his former Sesame Street companion has been garnering in the news these past two weeks. While Ernie believes that Bert is still good on the inside, he blames himself for not spotting the warning signs years ago.

Ernie with dignataries "Bert has been always been a Negative Nellie," said Ernie, Bert's former roommate, before a special U.N. council, which included Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, and British P.M. Tony Blair. "But, really, he's just been hanging around with the wrong sort of people."

Ernie recognized early on that Bert had been counterproductive. During their initial season on Sesame Street, Ernie says that Bert deliberately chose a vertically-striped sweater, after Jim Henson had already approved matching horizontally-striped attire, creating strife and mistrust with his producers.

Ernie and Kofi "There was also that Sesame Street album incident," said Ernie, who was recently seen meeting with U.N. Chairman Kofi Annan."I asked Bert what he wanted to sing for the Bert & Ernie Sing-Along, and he said: 'I don't want to sing along'. That ended up being the first track on the album."

Ernie hopes that his lifelong muppet buddy is able to turn his life around. He admits disappointment in Bert's recent choices, but thinks that the fuzzy-topped character can turn it around.

"Bert just needs to be in control of his own wires," added Ernie, who is scheduled to meet this weekend with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to discuss Canada's future in global economics. "Even through all this, Bert's still my best friend."

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