Bush, Merkel seek to overcome Iran differences
CRAWFORD, United States (AFP) — US President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed Saturday to pursue a diplomatic end to the Iran nuclear standoff as they worked on a common strategy towards a defiant Tehran.
But the two did not appear to narrow their differences on individual country sanctions, as Merkel stuck to her position that Germany would wait until ongoing European and UN diplomatic efforts have run their course.
"The top of my agenda is Iran," Bush said as they met on his "Prairie Chapel" Texas ranch. "We will continue to work together to solve this problem diplomatically, which means they will continue to be isolated."
"I'm deeply convinced that the diplomatic possibilities have not yet been exhausted," the chancellor said through an interpreter.
Merkel said that Iran's refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, stoking Western fears that it seeks nuclear weapons, might require a third round of UN sanctions, calling that the "clearest message that you can convey" to Tehran.
She noted ongoing diplomacy by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and a push by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to curb the Islamic republic's atomic activities.
If those efforts fail, "then we need to think about further possible sanctions, and we do not only need to think about them but we also have to then talk and agree on further possible sanctions," she said.
Moreover, in the event of such a stalemate, which could be declared in early December, "Germany needs to look somewhat closer at the existing business ties with Iran," she said.
The United States slapped a fresh round of unilateral sanctions on Iran in late October and had invited its allies, as well as partners like Russia and China, to follow suit.
"We need to look, as the situation unfolds, whether we need to have a closer look again at that and possibly need to work together with our German business community. I will talk with them again on further possible reductions of those commercial ties," said Merkel.
National security adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters the possibility of using a "military option" against Iran "didn't explicitly" come up, but he applauded Merkel's mention of increased financial pressure.
"There's clearly a recognition that we may need to put more pressure on the Iranian regime, so that they would change a set of policies that are having the effect of isolating the Iranian people ... at the same time keeping open the -- as we have from the very beginning -- the option of negotiating a successful outcome," Hadley said.
Merkel was conciliatory on Afghanistan, saying the United States and its allies "need to do more" to stabilize the strife-torn country but making no mention of a rift with Washington, which has criticized some allies like Germany for restrictions on the deployments of their forces there.
Asked about the political upheaval in Pakistan, Bush said he had no reason not to trust President Pervez Musharraf's promises to lift a state of emergency and return to constitutional rule "as quickly as possible."
"I take a person for his word, until otherwise. I think that's what you have to do. When somebody says this is what they're going to do, then you give them a chance to do it," the president said.
Bush also said that Pakistan would remain a strong ally in the global war on terrorism he declared after the September 11 attacks, because both Musharraf and former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a political rival, see Al-Qaeda as a threat.
"He fully understands the dangers of Al-Qaeda. Benazir Bhutto fully understands the dangers of Al-Qaeda. By far the vast majority of people in Pakistan want to live in a free and peaceful society, and they understand," he said.
"We will continue to have good collaboration with the leadership in Pakistan. My concern is for the Pakistani democracy, for the sake of the Pakistani people, proceeds back on track as quickly as possible," said Bush.
There were also signs of the warm personal relationship between the US president and his guest, who referred to him as "dear George" and praised the ranch as "a very beautiful spot."
"I'm now going to go feed the chancellor a hamburger, right here in Crawford, Texas," Bush said to end the press conference.
"Obviously, for me, as a person who originally came from Hamburg, it's even more important," Merkel quipped.
