Bush, Merkel seek Iran solution
President Bush welcomed Angela Merkel to his Crawford ranch.
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Saturday, 10, Nov 2007 08:07
US president George Bush and German chancellor Angela Merkel are to 'look for Iran consensus' in two-day talks at the president's Texas ranch, it is thought.
The German chancellor visits the US head of state soon after French president Nicolas Sarkozy made his first official visit to the White House.
And according to White House officials, the two leaders will discuss "ways to work together on the diplomatic track to get Iran to halt its uranium enrichment".
The German leader arrived at the 1,600 acre Crawford ranch via helicopter, with Mr Bush's invitation to the property signalling a special relationship between the pair, markedly different to the frosty diplomacy between the president and Ms Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schroeder.
"In Texas when you invite somebody into your home it's an expression of warmth and respect and that's how I feel about Chancellor Merkel," Mr Bush said after greeting the chancellor.
"Already a first glance of the area shows that this is indeed a wonderful place," Ms Merkel responded.
Germany recently opposed a US call to impose unilateral trade sanctions on Tehran, but Ms Merkel said earlier this week the Reichstag would support a tougher stance if Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not address international concerns about the country's nuclear program.
Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the talks were intended to iron out a future strategic programme.
"Strategically, we see eye-to-eye. Tactically, there are some slight differences," he commented.