    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [January 13, 2006]
    [Pages 68-74]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany
    January 13, 2006

        President Bush. Thank you all. It's such an honor to welcome
    Chancellor Angela Merkel here to the White House. We just had a long
    visit. The first thing I did was ask everybody to leave the room except
    for the Chancellor. And we talked about our philosophy and our hopes. We
    talked about our desire to work together to accomplish important goals
    for the world, starting with peace. We share a deep desire to help those
    who suffer. We care about the hungry and the sick.
        Germany is a valued ally. We've got a friendship that's important.
    We share common values based upon human rights and human decency and
    rule of law, freedom to worship and freedom to speak, freedom to write
    what you want to write.
        We've got an important job ahead of us, to work on key issues like
    Iran. We spent some time talking about the Iranian issue and the desire
    to solve this issue diplomatically by working together.
        We talked about the war on terror. I told the Chancellor that
    there's still an enemy that wants to do harm to the American people and
    others who like freedom, an enemy there that lurks, and that we've got
    to share information and share intelligence and work carefully to
    protect our peoples, that the threat is real, and that my obligation as
    the President of this country is to do everything in my power to protect
    the people, and we can't do it alone.
        We talked about Eastern Europe and the Balkans. I thanked the
    Chancellor for Germany's contribution in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a
    country that has gone from being ruled brutally by the Taliban, a group
    of people who have values the exact opposite of the values of Americans
    and the German people, to one that's now beginning to see the light of
    freedom. Democracy yields the peace, and it's important that democracy
    succeed in Afghanistan, and I want to thank the German people and the
    German Government for their contributions.
        We talked about Iraq, and we've had our disagreements on Iraq,
    obviously. It's been a difficult issue in our relationship, and I fully
    understand that. But in spite of disagreements, we share the desire for
    the Iraqi people to live in freedom. I want to thank the German
    Government for help with reconstruction.
        We talked about Israel and Palestine. Both of us care deeply about
    the health of Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister
    Sharon. We wish him all the very best and hope for his recovery. We also
    care deeply about the plight of the people in that part of the world,
    and we hope that there will be two states living side by side in peace.
        We talked about NATO as the foundation of our collective defense and
    consultations. We talked about the importance of trade relations and
    business relations and commerce so that people on both sides of the
    Atlantic in our respective countries can find meaningful, high-paying
    jobs.
        We talked about a lot, and the reason we talked about a lot is
    because we've got a lot in common. And the reason we talked about a lot,
    because there's a lot of issues

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    in the world that require our intense cooperation and desire to work
    together. And I appreciate the candid conversation, and I appreciate the
    beginning of what's going to be an important relationship for the sake
    of our respective peoples.
        Welcome.
        Chancellor Merkel. Well, thank you very much. And let me say that we
    indeed had a very open, a very candid discussion, one that was
    characterized by a spirit of trust that builds on a long tradition of
    German-American relations. But I think that will open up, also, a new
    chapter, as I hope, in our relationship.
        This is my first visit as Chancellor, heading a new Federal
    Government. And I explained that there are two objectives that we have
    set out for ourselves. First of all, as regards our domestic agenda, we
    would like to strengthen our economic force, our economic strength. We
    look at the challenges that globalization entails, and we would like to
    explain to our people that in order to meet the social challenges ahead,
    we need to be economically strong.
        And I think there is a lot of common ground here because we are at
    one in thinking that, obviously, we ought not to fall back into
    isolationist tendencies. We know that these tendencies are there, for
    example, in the European Union. We think we ought to meet these
    challenges of competition head on. And I think what we need to do is we
    need to convince our people to believe in themselves and to believe that
    even in the face of the challenges of globalization, prosperity and
    social equality is possible.
        Secondly, apart from the domestic component, Germany wants to be a
    reliable partner to our partners in the world but also to our partners
    in Europe. And in order to be able to do that--well, Europe, as you know
    is composed of smaller and larger nations. We talked about the European
    Union. We talked about the possibilities and the chances open to the
    European Union. And I think it's essential that those countries that
    feel that they share common ground as regard to values in the Western
    World stand together. And for Germany, I would like to say that
    throughout the period of the cold war, the fact that for more than 40
    years, we believed in the value of freedom actually was the firm
    foundation for what was possible later on in European unification.
        The fact that your father, sir--partnership and leadership, that was
    an incredible offer that was made to us by President Bush at the time.
    And I think that this is certainly in our vested interest to work
    together with you. What does that mean, ``our vested interest''? It
    means that we face the challenges in the world today head on. It means
    that after the threat through the cold war is no longer with us,
    obviously, the threat of terrorism is certainly the greatest challenge
    to our security in the 21st century.
        There may sometimes be differences as to the acuteness of the
    danger, as to what form it presents itself, how we actually also
    counteract here and how we face up to this matter. Afghanistan, for
    example, is a case in point. We are engaged, and we're committed to
    Afghanistan because we see that as a vested interest. We think it is
    only in our interest that the whole of this region is stabilized. The
    same goes for Iraq. Secure democratic structures ought to be in
    existence in Iraq. This is in our vested interest. In spite of the fact
    that we don't have troops on the ground there, stability there is in our
    very own vested interest, and we've shown that through commitments that
    we've entered on in other areas.
        On the Balkans, the Balkans, too, their stability is the only
    promising sign which can actually ensure stability for the whole of the
    region. And NATO, for me, is the forum where we need to discuss, where
    we need to debate strategic issues and what we think is necessary as
    regards further military capabilities.

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        We also openly addressed that there sometimes have been differences
    of opinion. I mentioned Guantanamo in this respect. But I think that at
    the end of the day, what counts is that we come back to the situation
    where we openly address all of the issues, not only how we envisage the
    fight against terrorism, but I just mean a very broad-based debate, for
    example, on trade issues; how do we see our relationship with China; how
    do you see our relationship with Russia; what sort of strategic
    relationships do we want to forge as Western nations. And this is why
    I'm so happy about the fact that we were at one in saying we need to
    intensify our contacts further; we need to address all of these issues.
        And I think a very successful chapter, for example, was opened over
    the past few days and weeks as regards Iran. To us Germans, too, it is
    totally unacceptable what Iran has said recently, for example, as
    regards the questioning the right of existence of Israel, the statements
    that were made with relevance to the Holocaust. And it's essential, we
    feel, that the EU-3, together with the United States, take a common
    position here, become active, that we try to persuade as many other
    countries as possible to join themselves to us, to ally themselves with
    us, and we will certainly not be intimidated by a country such as Iran.
        I must say that I was greatly encouraged by our meeting here today,
    Mr. President, and I hope and trust that we shall continue our very good
    discussions, that we will further intensify them. We have every
    opportunity, I think, to intensify our economic relations, our business
    relations, relations in the area of research and development, in foreign
    policy. And I'm very, very pleased that we made such a good start here
    today.
        President Bush. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Guantanamo Bay Detainees

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Chancellor Merkel has said that the
    U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo should not be kept open indefinitely. Are
    you willing to close it down anytime soon? And Chancellor, what are your
    concerns about Guantanamo?
        President Bush. Yes, she brought up the subject, and I can
    understand why she brought it up, because there's some misperceptions
    about Guantanamo. First of all, I urge any journalist to go down there
    and look at how the folks that are being detained there are treated.
    These are people picked up off a battlefield who want to do harm. A lot
    of folks have been released from Guantanamo.
        Like the Chancellor, I'd like to see a way forward there. The way
    forward, of course, is ultimately through a court system. I think the
    best way for the court system to proceed is through our military
    tribunals, which is now being adjudicated in our courts of law--to
    determine whether or not this is appropriate path for a country that
    bases itself on rule of law, to adjudicate those held at Guantanamo.
        The answer to your question is that Guantanamo is a necessary part
    of protecting the American people, and so long as the war on terror goes
    on, and so long as there's a threat, we will inevitably need to hold
    people that would do ourselves harm in a system that--in which people
    will be treated humanely, and in which, ultimately, there is going to be
    a end, which is a legal system. We're waiting for our own courts to
    determine how that's best to proceed.
        Chancellor Merkel. Well, it is true that we addressed this issue
    openly, and I think it's, after all, only one facet in our overall fight
    against terrorism. I made it very clear that I completely share your
    assessment as regards the nature and dimension of this threat, and that
    the Federal Republic of Germany, just as other European countries, need
    to come up with convincing proposals as to how we ought to deal with
    detainees, for example, who do not feel bound by any law; and how do we
    deal with people

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    who come from countries where such state structures don't exist.
        So I think what we need to address is how we further want to
    proceed. We need to, for example, find a reform of the international law
    in this respect, and I think the United Nations is indeed a good forum
    to do that. But I think that's part of a permanent dialog between our
    two countries, where we really need to debate how we wish to proceed
    further. And the basis and the common ground needs to be, we have shared
    values, and I have seen that this is a very best precondition, even
    though, from time to time, we may have differences of opinion here.
        The President. Want to call on somebody?

    Iran

        Q. ----been discussed. Are you in favor of sanctions against Iran in
    the Security Council, and what kind of sanctions should that be? And
    another question is, in Germany, there's a discussion about
    intelligence, secret service people working in Baghdad during the Iraq
    war. From your knowledge, did the German intelligence help the U.S.
    before and during the Iraq war in Baghdad?
        President Bush. I have no idea about the latter. [Laughter] You did
    say secret intelligence, right? [Laughter] I understand. I really--the
    truth of the matter is, the Chancellor brought this up this morning. I
    had no idea what she was talking about. The first I heard of it was this
    morning, truthfully.
        Secondly, the first part of your question was Iran.
        Q. Iran, sir.
        President Bush. Okay, good. Sometimes when you mix them up, it
    throws us off balance, you know?
        I'm not going to prejudge what the United Nations Security Council
    should do. But I recognize that it's logical that a country which has
    rejected diplomatic entreaties be sent to the United Nations Security
    Council. I want to put it in this perspective: The U.N. Security Council
    is part of a diplomatic process started by Germany, France, and Great
    Britain representing the interests of a lot of countries like ourself,
    which made it abundantly clear to the Iranians that the development of
    the know-how and/or--a nuclear weapon was unacceptable. And the reason
    it's unacceptable is because Iran, armed with a nuclear weapon, poses a
    grave threat to the security of the world.
        And countries such as ours have an obligation to step up, working
    together, sending a common message to the Iranians that it's their
    behavior--trying to clandestinely develop a nuclear weapon or using the
    guise of a civilian nuclear weapon program to get the know-how to
    develop a nuclear weapon--is unacceptable. And Germany has played an
    incredibly constructive role in this dialog, and I want to thank the
    Chancellor for continuing that dialog.
        As I say, we're working very carefully together in consultation
    about how to proceed next. One of the things friends do is they spend
    time discussing strategies before we make a common statement about what
    next ought to happen. And we spent a fair amount of time today, and I
    know Condi Rice has spent a fair amount of
    time with the current Government about strategizing how best to achieve
    the objective. That's what we want to do. We want an end result to be
    acceptable, which will yield peace, which is that the Iranians not have
    a nuclear weapon in which to blackmail and/or threaten the world.
        I want to remind you that the current President of Iran has announced that the destruction of Israel is
    an important part of their agenda. And that's unacceptable. And the
    development of a nuclear weapon seems like to me would make them a step
    closer to achieving that objective. And we have an obligation, in order
    to keep the peace, to work together to achieve the objective that we're
    trying to achieve through the current diplomatic process.

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        I don't know if you want to add to that brilliance or not.
    [Laughter]
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].
        Q. Thank you, sir. If I could just follow up on that. China's U.N.
    Ambassador says referring Iran to the Security Council might complicate
    the issue. How hard is it going to be to get a----
        President Bush. Say that again, Steve. I'm getting a little old. I'm
    getting old; I'm having trouble hearing.
        Q. China's U.N. Ambassador----
        President Bush. The Chinese Ambassador said
    what?
        Q. It might complicate the issue if you refer Iran to----
        President Bush. Might complicate the issue?
        Q. Yes, sir--of how hard it's going to be. What's your timetable?
    Should the sanctions include the threat of military force?
        President Bush. First of all, I want to repeat what I said before.
    We should not prejudge the strategy in the Security Council until they
    get to the Security Council. What we're doing now is beginning to lay
    out the strategy of what happens in the Security Council. That's what
    friends do. We consult, we talk, we strategize as to how to achieve an
    important objective, which is not allowing an--for Iran not to have a
    nuclear weapon.
        And you're going to see a lot of public discussion about this
    matter. And the Chinese, you know, have got an opinion; the Russians
    have an opinion; we have opinions; everybody has opinions. Our job is to
    form a common consensus. And so you're--this is what's called diplomacy.
    I know you know that, Steve. I don't mean to insult you. But diplomacy
    is out talking to friends, allies, and others about a common objective.
    This meeting has got a lot of diplomacy in it today, because this is a
    subject in which we've spent a lot of time. I'm very interested in the
    Chancellor's opinion on this subject.
        We did talk about the Chinese statement. Our job is to make it clear
    to all parties that it is in the world's interest that Iran not have a
    nuclear weapon, in other words, share the same goal. Once that goal is
    established, it makes it easier to come up with the strategy to achieve
    the goal.
        And so, of course, we'll reach out to the Chinese and remind them,
    once again, that it's not in their interest or the world's interest for
    the Iranians to develop the capacity to--and/or a nuclear--to build a
    weapon and/or to possess a weapon. And I just gave you one reason why.
        Another reason why is, it's very important for nontransparent
    societies not to have the capacity to blackmail free societies. We're
    thinking about how to lay the foundation for peace. We must be
    proactive. And that's what you're seeing. You're seeing the evolution of
    a proactive diplomatic policy----
        Q. What about----
        President Bush. Military option?
        Chancellor Merkel. Allow me, if I may, and give you my German
    perspective on the matter. What is essential and is crucial is that over
    the next--when we look at the next step to be taken by the EU-3 and the
    United States together in a genuine consultation process that where we
    say at one point in time, ``We actually did everything we could.'' They
    refused it. Iran refused every offer we made, even the Russian offer.
    Now we refer this matter back to the Board of Governors of the IAEA. But
    they, too, do their utmost to try to enlist as large a number of member
    states to join in on a proposal that will then be made to the Iranians.
    And I think this is going to be absolutely crucial for the Iranians to
    see how serious we are about all of this.
        So what is at stake now is what sort of attempt--and serious
    attempt--is taken by all of us. And we've seen it with Syria, that it
    does leave an impression. It does leave an impact, if as large a number
    of nations in this world as possible makes it

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    abundantly clear we are not accepting a stance that says, in effect, the
    right of existence of Israel is questioned. ``You are trying to lie to
    us. You are trying to cheat.'' This is something that we don't accept.
    And this is what we need to discuss: who is going to take which role,
    who is going to play which part, and what will be the final proposal?
    And then I think this has--it was what made this EU-3 approach so
    successful. They stood together, and they had one uniform position.
        Thank you.

    Germany-U.S. Relations

        Q. A question addressed to you, Madam Chancellor, and then one to
    you, Mr. President. Chancellor, would you say that this visit today has
    opened up a new chapter in German-American relations? And how do you
    think this should look, better than with Chancellor Schroeder at the
    last year? [Laughter]
        Chancellor Merkel. Well, for my part, I can say that there is every
    opportunity for us to further enhance our relations, and such
    enhancement of relations is founded on a shared experience, no doubt
    about this. Afghanistan was mentioned here; the Balkans were mentioned.
    And here, too, we're also able to tell you that, after all, we have been
    successful in WTO negotiations.
        So what is important to me, I think, is to have as many
    international contacts as possible, because I think, to a very large
    part, misunderstandings occur when you don't meet often enough, when you
    don't talk to each other often enough. The President just pointed out
    how much intellectual effort has to go further into trying to come up
    with a convincing strategy as how to deal with Iran, and we can't resort
    to some kind of ivory tower and think for ourselves. We have to do it in
    exchange with others.
        Secondly--and I do see a chance here, a climate of openness has to
    exist, an area where one says quite clearly and candidly to one another,
    ``Well, there we agree; there we disagree.'' But there also has to be a
    climate of absolute trust, of reliability, where one stands by what one
    has agreed upon.
        Thirdly, in spite of the great threat of terrorism that is the great
    threat to us in the 21st century, we need to point out that U.S.-Germany
    relations cannot only rest on fighting terrorism, but we have common
    interests. We have, for example, competitors, such as China and other
    countries, who don't abide by any rule. And we would like to see the
    rules kept. And now we need to find a common basis, a common approach,
    even though we sometimes may be, ourselves, competitors in certain
    business fields, for example, where we vie for orders.
        So I see opportunities and I think that we need to be aware of the
    fact that after the end of the cold war, many of the contacts that
    existed in the past and also because of our cooperation as allies, that
    these cannot be taken for granted these days anymore. So it's going to
    be essential for us not to only talk at governmental level--it's a good
    experience, obviously--but that also our societies have to be engaged,
    that they have to understand that we need their contribution, too, to
    have good relations. And I think I made a little start in the right
    direction. So in about six months you may ask me again whether I've been
    able to add a few more chapters to it.
        President Bush. We've got something in common; we both didn't
    exactly landslide our way into office. [Laughter]
        I'm convinced that we will have a really important and good
    relationship.
        First, I do want to send my best regards to Gerhard
    Schroeder. We spent a lot of time
    together, and we talked about important issues. Listen, there was room
    for agreement and room for disagreement. And I do hope he's doing well.
        Our job now is to work together. We've got big interests. Germany is
    a really important country. It's right in the heart of

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    Europe; it's vital that Germany take the lead on a lot of issues. And I
    look forward to working with the Chancellor on common objectives. And my
    first impressions, with 45 minutes alone in the Oval Office, were
    incredibly positive. She's smart--[laughter]--she's plenty capable.
    She's got kind of a spirit to her that is appealing. She loves freedom.
        I was particularly touched by hearing about her early life in
    Communist Germany. There's something uplifting to talk to somebody who
    knows the difference between just talking about tyranny and living in
    freedom and actually done it.
        So we're going to have a very good relationship. And that's
    important for our respective people. I'm looking forward to
    consultations, visits, contacts, phone calls, all the things you do. And
    now I'm going to take her to lunch. [Laughter]
        Thank you.
        Chancellor Merkel. Thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:37 a.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister
    Ariel Sharon of Israel; President Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad of Iran; China's
    Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya; and former Chancellor
    Gerhard Schroeder of Germany. Chancellor Merkel and two reporters spoke
    in German, and their remarks were translated by an interpreter. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this news conference.