[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 1 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Pages 5-10]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany

January 4, 2007

    President Bush. Madam Chancellor, thank you. Welcome back to 
Washington. It's good to welcome you here to the White House. And Laura 
and I are looking forward to feeding you dinner. I'm not so sure it's 
going to be as good a dinner as the barbecue you fed us--[laughter]--but 
we'll try.
    This new year marks the beginning of Germany's Presidency of both 
the EU and the G-8. And we just had a wide-ranging discussion about a 
lot of issues. We talked about the Chancellor's ambitious agenda for 
both those leadership roles. We discussed how we can continue to work 
together to promote prosperity and security and peace.

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    We spent time talking about Afghanistan, and I appreciate very much, 
Madam Chancellor, your support for the people of Afghanistan. You take 
your NATO commitments seriously. We're proud to serve alongside such a 
strong ally.
    We talked about Iran, and I thanked Chancellor Merkel's strong 
support for a Chapter VII Iranian--Chapter VII United Nations Security 
Council resolution on Iran. It was an important message to send Iran, 
that the free world wants there to be a peaceful future. And we don't 
see a peaceful future with the Iranians developing a nuclear weapon. And 
so I want to thank you for your leadership, Madam Chancellor. We're 
going to continue to work together on the Iranian issue. It's important 
for us to follow through in order--on this Chapter VII resolution in 
order to solve this issue peacefully.
    We talked about the Israeli-Palestinian issue. And Madam Chancellor 
had a good idea to convene the Quartet, which I agreed to. I think the 
Quartet ought to meet at an appropriate time. Condoleezza Rice will be 
going to the Middle East here shortly. She'll come back to report to not 
only me but also to the Chancellor, about how we can move the process 
forward. We're committed--strongly committed to a two-state solution 
with Israeli and Palestine living side by side in peace, two democracies 
supporting each other's rights to exist. I'm optimistic that we can 
achieve that objective; I'm looking forward to working with the 
Chancellor to do so.
    We talked about Lebanon. And one thing is for certain, this 
administration--and I'm confident Chancellor Merkel as well--will 
support the Siniora Government. Isn't it amazing that young democracies 
are constantly attacked by radicals and extremists, and Lebanon is such 
an example. And I believe those of us who are fortunate enough to live 
in free societies have an obligation to support democracies like that of 
Lebanon.
    We talked about Darfur. I appreciate very much Chancellor Merkel's 
deep concern for the suffering that goes on in Darfur. You may realize 
that my administration has called the suffering there a genocide. We 
take the issue very seriously. We expect the Bashir Government to make 
more progress toward allowing there to be not only security but goods 
and supplies provided to the people that suffer there. And Madam 
Chancellor understands the issue. I appreciate the fact that German 
planes are flying relief into Darfur. Your great country is making a 
strong commitment, and we look forward to working with you as the head 
of the EU as well, to help end the suffering there in that part of 
Africa.
    We talked about trade. We're committed to the Doha round. We've got 
hard work to do to overcome our obstacles. But we spent a--we had a 
good, frank discussion on the subject. Jose Barroso and his trade 
minister will be coming to the United States on Monday; we'll continue 
to further our dialog on Doha. But I believe we can get a deal done--
it's just going to take a lot of will and a lot of hard work to do it. I 
know it is going to be necessary if we really do want to deal with 
global poverty, to have a successful round at Doha. Trade is the best 
way to help poor nations develop their economy so that people can 
realize the benefits of wealth moving throughout their society.
    We talked about climate change. And I assured the Chancellor that 
I've been committed to promoting new technologies that will promote 
energy efficiency, and at the same time, do a better job of protecting 
the world's environment. And I believe there's a chance now to put 
behind us the old, stale debates of the past and focus on technological 
developments that will enable us to be good stewards of the environment, 
and at the same time, enable us to become less dependent on oil and 
hydrocarbons from parts of the world that may not like us.
    Here in the United States, we're going full-steam ahead with new 
technologies that will change the way we drive our cars and power our 
homes and light our streets. And so, Madam Chancellor, we've discussed a 
lot. We'll have a chance to further our discussions over dinner. I'm so 
happy you're here. I appreciate you taking time to come and visit. The 
floor is yours.
    Chancellor Merkel. ----and the G-8 Presidency and the fact that this 
trip here to Washington happens today are certainly not a matter of 
coincidence, but it is clearly an expression of the fact that we share 
values,

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that there are a lot of common interests between our two countries, and 
that there is also a lot of need for enhanced cooperation between the 
European Union and the United States of America. We clearly are in need 
of that cooperation in order to make further progress in solving the 
problems besetting the world of today.
    There are a lot of issues that we debated here today that have 
clearly a connection to our presence in the European Union. The Doha 
round is one issue that comes to mind. We would like to cooperate very 
closely on that. We are all aware of the fact that this window of 
opportunity that we have is closing fast. We need to act swiftly. And it 
was with great pleasure that this is, indeed, an issue that is very 
important not only to the European Union but also to the United States 
of America.
    We will have to further exchange also our views with the G-20 in 
order to achieve an objective that is in our interest and is in their 
interest, that helps them to get access to our markets and that also 
helps us.
    There will be a G-8 meeting later on in the year, and there will be 
issues related to that that will deal with the climate change, is one. I 
was delighted to hear that there is a readiness here, and we shall 
continue to work on this--our experts, indeed, work on this.
    On the one hand, we obviously need economic growth. But on the other 
hand, a reduction, also, of greenhouse gases. We were at one on this. 
And energy efficiency is the primary goal that we need to attain. There 
are a lot of areas where we are confident we can cooperate, starting 
from biofuels to new technologies that we are going to develop. Between 
the European Union and the United States, I think there is a wide scope 
for further talks on this.
    We also talked about this project of a future common market, the 
joint efforts to make our economic forces so efficient that these 
economies, our two economies that, after all, rest on one and the same 
values, can be rendered more efficient. There will be close contacts; we 
will set up a working group that will further explore those issues and 
that will then prepare for the EU-U.S. summit.
    It's certainly an uphill battle. I always describe it as a sort of 
thick board that needs to be chalked at. And what we're dealing here 
with is, for example, patent laws, international financial markets, 
protection of intellectual property rights, and so on.
    We also talked about the international situation, the situation 
particularly here in the Middle East. We thought that, for example, in 
the framework of the Quartet, the European Union can do a lot in order 
to bring about a solution to the problems besetting the Middle East. I'm 
delighted to hear that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to 
go to the region shortly. I think this is the right point in time to 
take some time and reflect what the Quartet can actually do in order to 
bring about a solution.
    We would like the European Union to speak with one and the same 
voice, saying we want a two-state solution, we want the recognition of 
Israel, of the state of Israel by the Palestinians, we want to 
strengthen President Abbas, and we also want to strengthen, to bolster 
the evolution of a strong Lebanon. We discussed this today too, and we 
also discussed the measures that we think need to be taken.
    We cooperate very well in Afghanistan. It was an issue that we 
discussed at greater length during the NATO meeting in Riga. There will 
be by the end of January, be a NATO meeting on that particular issue. I 
think this is going to be actually very important, that particular 
meeting--in order to take up where we left off in Riga--to concentrate 
on military projects, obviously, but also to give a very strong boost to 
civilian projects so that we might continue to build on what we agreed 
during the last NATO meeting.
    Obviously, we also talked about the situation in Iraq. Allow me to 
say, although Germany is not militarily present in Iraq, we have every 
interest in seeing Iraq taking a turn for a more peaceful development, 
where people no longer need to be in fear of their lives, and that 
politically we shall do everything we can in order to give support to 
such a positive development.
    Well, my impression is that over the next 6 months during our 
Presidency there is a lot on the agenda. There are a lot of common

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interests, as I said, and a lot of areas where I feel we can tackle 
problems together. And I think this dialog is just the beginning of a 
very intensive dialog we shall continue to have during our Presidency--
this is, after all, a sixth meeting already. So I think we may safely 
speak of a continuous exchange of views. Thank you yet again for the 
invitation, Mr. President.

Iraq

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You spoke for nearly 2 hours today with 
Iraq's Prime Minister. Do you both agree now on the need to send more 
U.S. troops to Iraq to deal with the rising violence in that country?
    President Bush. Well, Ben [Ben Feller, Associated Press], my 
thinking is taking shape. I'll be ready to outline a strategy that will 
help the Iraqis achieve the objective of a country that can govern, 
sustain, and defend itself sometime next week; I've still got 
consultations to go through. Whatever decision I make, though, will be 
all aimed at achieving our objective.
    I did have a good discussion with Prime Minister Maliki. It did 
nearly last for 2 hours. I talked about a lot of topics with him. One 
thing I was looking for was will--to determine whether or not he has the 
will necessary to do the hard work to protect his people. And I told 
him, I said that, ``You show the will, we will help you.'' And that's--
I'm in the process of making up my final decision as to what to 
recommend--what recommendations to accept. One thing is for certain, I 
will want to make sure that the mission is clear and specific and can be 
accomplished.

Situation in the Middle East/Syria

    Q. Madam Chancellor, Mr. President, concerning the Middle East and 
the revival of the Quartet, did you consider to enlarge the mandate of 
the Quartet? And there have been talks in Europe about including Lebanon 
problems, maybe even talks to Syria and broadening the mandate of this, 
since last summer during the conflict of the northern border between 
Israel and southern Lebanon, you learned that all these problems are 
interlinked.
    President Bush. Your first part of your question? I didn't hear the 
first part of your question.
    Q. I was just referring----
    President Bush. Broaden the Quartet, is that what you said?
    Q. That broaden--mandate of the Quartet, that you take care of more 
than the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
    President Bush. My view is the Quartet ought to stay focused on the 
Israeli-Palestinian issue, because when we solve that problem, a lot of 
other problems will be easier to solve.
    Secondly, Syria knows exactly what she needs to do in order to 
reenter the nation--reenter the--you know, to be viewed as a nation 
that's constructive. And my own view is, is that we need to proceed with 
the Hariri tribunal as fast as possible and hold people to account. If 
they murder somebody, they need to be held to account. People need to--
they need to bring this to conclusion.
    So my attitude on Syria is they can be a much more constructive 
partner, and they haven't been. They don't need to be told that in 
meeting after meeting after meeting. They get told that right here in a 
press conference like this. They know exactly what they need to do. And 
it's their choice to make.
    Chancellor Merkel. I think that the Quartet actually has its work 
cut out for it, looking at the Middle East conflict, first and foremost. 
I mean, it needs to be spelled out clearly what one actually wants to 
achieve, and the players in the region need to have the necessary 
willingness to bring about a solution. They can be supported by the 
Quartet, and international unified opinion can be set up through the 
Quartet.
    But I think the main task, really, is to push matters along, to give 
a support to Prime Minister Siniora to develop a truly sovereign 
Lebanon. I think Syria needs to be given a push there. And Syria, I 
think looking at, for example, the efforts made by the European Union, 
looking at the fact that the Foreign Minister of Germany went there to 
talk to them, Syria has been given a lot of opportunities. 
Unfortunately, they have allowed those

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opportunities to pass without taking any action. We expect Syria to 
change, but unfortunately so far, we haven't received any optimistic 
messages to that effect.

Death of Former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq/War on Terror

    Q. Mr. President, you mentioned that you see national reconciliation 
as a crucial goal there for your policy. Why then haven't you condemned 
the taunting that Saddam Hussein faced on the gallows from Shiite 
officials? And on a related subject, can you be more specific as to 
which day next week you'll be unveiling your Iraq policy?
    The President. The second part of your question, no. [Laughter] 
First part of your question--I want you to anticipate the speech. I want 
you to be thinking about it. I want you to be internalizing it.
    Q. [Inaudible]
    The President. Thank you. I talked to Prime Minister Maliki about 
the videotape that was released during the execution of Saddam Hussein. 
He said he's going to fully investigate what happened. I appreciate that 
very much. One thing is for certain: A horrific chapter in Iraqi history 
has been closed, and now we're talking about a more hopeful chapter for 
the Iraqi people. And that's what I spent most of my time talking to him 
about.
    We expect there to be a full investigation of what took place. The 
Iraqi people want to move forward. They want to forget that terrible 
part of their past, and they want to live in peace. And it's in our 
Nation's interest to help them do so.
    So I spent a lot of time talking about the strategy to help achieve 
that objective, and that objective is a country that is an ally in this 
war on terror, a country that sends a strong example to reformers and 
women throughout the Middle East that it's possible to live in a free 
society that can work for the common good. I believe Prime Minister 
Maliki has the will necessary to make the tough decisions. That's one of 
the things I learned today. And in the meantime, he said he's going to 
fully investigate what took place.
    Q. Sir, do you have a personal reaction, though----
    President Bush. My personal reaction is, is that Saddam Hussein was 
given a trial that he was unwilling to give the thousands of people he 
killed. He was given a fair trial--something he was unwilling to give 
thousands of Iraqi citizens, who he brutalized. I wish, obviously, that 
the proceedings had been--gone in a more dignified way. But 
nevertheless, he was given justice; the thousands of people he killed 
were not.

Europe-U.S. Relations

    Q. I have a question to the President and then a question to the 
Chancellor. Mr. President, now Germany tries to have a new action of the 
Middle East Quartet. And the debate always is how can European powers 
influence a superpower like the United States? Whether Germany objected, 
Iraq or Tony Blair got along in Iraq, they had not much influence, the 
pessimists say. Can you give us one example where you changed your mind 
after talking to a European leader?
    And, Mrs. Merkel, there are actually few successes of the Quartet 
over the past time. Were the efforts so weak or are the problems so 
great that they simply have not been able to achieve progress? And what 
does this mean? What does this spell out for renewal of efforts?
    President Bush. I don't know if I'd call this ``change of mind,'' 
but one thing that my European friends have taught me is that the United 
Nations is an important body in order to be able to convince Parliaments 
of hard work that needs to be done. For example, getting resolutions on 
Iraq at the United Nations is important for a country like Denmark or 
Holland, in order for them to go to their Parliaments and say, ``We have 
U.N. approval.''
    As you probably are aware, I've really never felt like the United 
States needs to get United Nations approval to make decisions necessary 
for our security. But I have come to realize that other countries do 
rely upon the United Nations, and I respect that a lot. So there's an 
area, for example, where I have been taught a lesson by my allies and 
friends.
    I listen to Angela Merkel a lot. She has got a lot of wisdom. I 
don't know if this helps

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her or hurts her for me to say this, but nevertheless, my consultations 
with Angela are very productive and very important.
    The United States needs to have good relations with Europe in order 
for us to achieve big objectives, whether it be trade or peace or 
security, it's--the relations between Europe and the United States are 
vital. And sometimes the relations are--can be difficult. Not every 
country agrees, throughout Europe. And yet Angela always gives me good 
advice as to how to deal with the common problems we face in order to 
make sure that our alliance works for the common good. And I appreciate 
that very much.
    Chancellor Merkel. I simply think that we ought to try time and 
again to achieve some sort of results in the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict. Looking at another field, for example, the adoption of the 
resolution on Iran, after all, we were able, looking at the past months, 
to forge a uniform position of the international community and have that 
reflected in a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. I 
think that's an enormous success, although things went obviously more 
slowly than if the EU and the United States, for example, had negotiated 
together.
    But by including Russia and China time and again in these 
negotiations, what evolved out of that process is an international 
community that is credibly being able to show Iran where there is a 
redline. And I think it's essential to see that the European Union, the 
United States, China, and Russia need to pull in the same direction on a 
number of other international issues.
    And I think it's very important that that goes for the Quartet, for 
example, too, because that's where I think that we will be able to 
make--it's an ideal forum where we can actually be able to make a 
difference and in a coherent fashion.
    If that Quartet were to be more active, therefore, in the future, 
the Presidency and also the Commission would obviously also have to meet 
a very specific task in fulfilling that--its part of the mandate. We 
need to make it clear, particularly to the not so constructive parts of 
Hamas, that they cannot play us off each other--us, that is the EU and 
the United States--but that we pull in the same direction, that we move 
in concert.
    And I must say I am a strong believer in this multilateral effort in 
these international fora, because it shows clearly where the redline is 
to those who do not wish for democracy. And this is what we need to do, 
time and again make it clear to them where the limits are, where the 
redlines are.
    President Bush. No back rubs. [Laughter]

Note: The President's news conference began at 6:35 p.m. in the Cross 
Hall at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister 
Fuad Siniora of Lebanon; President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan; 
President Jose Manuel Barroso and Trade Minister Pascal Lamy of the 
European Commission; and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq. 
Chancellor Merkel referred to President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the 
Palestinian Authority; and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of 
Germany. A reporter referred to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United 
Kingdom. Chancellor Merkel spoke in German, and her remarks were 
translated by an interpreter.