The President's News Conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel Of
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
July 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 many others in the international commu- We want to work together to promote free- nity, I respect her judgment and I value dom. There’s so much that we can do, her opinion. working together, and that’s part of my visit It’s such an honor to be in her constitu- today, is to pledge to you and the Chan- ency. When I met with her in the Oval cellor, America and Germany stand side by Office, she said, ‘‘When you come to Ger- side. many, you need to come to one of the Thank you for your warm welcome. May best parts of Germany.’’ She didn’t predict God bless you all. Thank you very much. the weather. [Laughter] But I want to thank the mayor for delivering such a beau- NOTE: The President spoke at approximately tiful day. And she forgot to tell me I was 9:55 a.m. in Stralsund Market Square. In his going to get some herring, and I thank remarks, he referred to Mayor Harald you for that gift. Lastovka of Stralsund, Germany; and Min- I bring a message from the American ister President Harald Ringstorff of the Fed- people: We’re honored to call the German eral State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, people friends and allies. We share com- Germany. Chancellor Merkel spoke in Ger- mon values and common interests. We man, and her remarks were translated by an want to work together to keep the peace. interpreter. The President’s News Conference With Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany in Stralsund July 13, 2006 Chancellor Merkel. Ladies and gentle- foremost on top of the agenda is certainly men, I am delighted to be able to welcome Iran. The international community actually the President of the United States here to submitted a very substantial, very funda- Stralsund yet again. We had a lengthy con- mental offer to Iran, starting from the firm versation just now in the office of the view that Iran should not be in possession mayor. We felt very much at home here of a nuclear weapon, but that, on the other in this beautiful city hall. We talked about hand, Iran should have—should know good all of the different issues on the global development. So far we have not received agenda. any sort of reaction from the Iranian lead- We shall later on see a little bit more ership as to how their position is on this of the countryside here, of the city itself. offer. I am really pleased to be able to show And this is why it was only consistent to the President of the United States how that yesterday the foreign ministers decided matters have developed here, with some yet again to show clearly, also through a problems still existing but also what sort resolution in the U.N. Security Council, of problems we’ve coped with quite suc- that should Iran not in any way reply to cessfully. And it’s such a great thing to this offer and accept this offer, we unfortu- have this lovely weather for our visits. nately have to embark on a new course. Just now in our talks, we talked at great The door has not been closed, but Iran length about international issues. Unfortu- must know that those who have submitted nately, there are quite a lot of problems this offer are willing—and this is the suc- that we need to deal with and for whose cess of yesterday’s meeting—Russia, China, solution we feel responsible. The first and the E–3, and the United States of America, 1386 VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:45 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 211655 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211655A.002 211655A rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with HEARING Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / July 13 all of them together are willing to act in mitment as regards Congo. We also, how- concert and to show this clearly through ever, see the situation in Darfur as a threat- their action in the Security Council. ening one. We also addressed the very disturbing We found that there is a lot that we situation in the Middle East, and it fills agree on, as regards our common respon- us with concern. And we have also stated sibilities, responsibilities that we see for the clearly that everything needs to be done two of us the world over. And I, for one, in order to come back to a peaceful resolu- think that as regards, for example, Iran, tion. We need to remind all of us again this responsibility ought to be shouldered how this escalation started, with the kid- by more and more countries—that goes for naping of a soldier, through rockets—for Russia; that goes for China. It will only the firing of missiles against Israeli terri- be if we act in concert that we will be tory. And we can only urge all parties, ap- able to vanquish the tyrants, remove dicta- peal to all parties to stop, to cease violence, torships, and contain those who sponsor and to also release the kidnaped soldier terrorism. And Germany would like to give and to stop this firing of missiles at Israeli its contribution to that. territory. President Bush. Chancellor, thank you We would like to appeal to the powers very much. Thanks for the invitation. This in the region to see to it that further esca- is a beautiful part of the world, and Laura lation is warded off and that, first and fore- and I are so honored to come to your con- most, the root causes of this conflict are stituency and meet some of the friendly removed. And only in this way will a nego- people who live here. I remember you tiating process become possible again. We coming to the Oval Office, and you said, have every interest in seeing the Lebanese ‘‘If you are coming to Germany, this is Government be strengthened and this Gov- the part of Germany I want you to see.’’ ernment being able to pursue its policies And now I can see why you suggested it. in a sensible and secure environment. I’m looking forward to the feast you’re We also addressed matters of trade, glob- going to have tonight. I understand I may al trade. Here we—and I’m saying this have the honor of slicing the pig. from a German perspective—have a com- We had a good discussion—it’s more mon interest in seeing this world round than a discussion; it’s really a strategy ses- be a successful one, this world trade round. sion, is the way I’d like to describe it. We But that means there has to be movement talked about a lot of subjects. We talked on all sides. And we’re expecting a reason- about the Middle East and Iran, and I able, sensible offer by the G–20, because briefed the Chancellor on North Korea. We this is where movement is necessary. Eu- talked about Iraq and Afghanistan as well. rope and others have submitted far-reach- But when we talked about the issues, ing proposals, and we would like to explore it’s important for you to understand, we’re every possibility of these negotiations, but really trying to figure out how to work to- that means, as I said, movement on all gether to solve problems. And I appre- sides. And here I see that the G–20 has ciate—appreciate the Chancellor’s judg- to deliver. ment a lot. It’s an interesting conversation, We also addressed those issues that will you know, when you toss out what may be on the agenda at the G–8 in St. Peters- seem to be a problem that’s insoluble, and burg. Here, first and foremost, energy pol- all of a sudden, two people start thinking icy, secure energy supply, was at the top about how to solve it, solve the problem. of the agenda. We addressed African issues, And that’s what we’re doing. Darfur and the Congo mission. We as Ger- You know, on the Iranian issue, for ex- mans, as you know, have taken out a com- ample, the last time that we were together, 1387 VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:45 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 211655 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211655A.002 211655A rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with HEARING July 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 we talked—spent a lot of time on Iran, peace will continue to work together to en- and the Chancellor was wondering whether courage peace. or not the United States would ever come We talked about North Korea. I assured to the table to negotiate with the Iranians. the Chancellor that I’m committed to the You made that pretty clear to me that you six-party talks and that the five of us in thought it was something—an option we the six-party talks will work to convince ought to consider, which I did. And I made North Korea to come back to the table. it clear to the Iranians that if they were I’m hopeful that we can get some U.N. to do what they said they would do, which action on North Korea. is to stop enrichment in a verifiable fashion, We did talk about Doha, the trade we’re more than pleased to come back to round, and it’s—look, these trade rounds the table.