Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Today During A Press Conference Held At The White House, Pres. Obama & His Guest Of Honor German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Called For Libyan President Moammar Qaddafi's Resignation.
Both Leaders Also Assured European Financial Market Experts & Other World Leaders That The Business Partnership Between The U.S. & Germany Remains Strong.
Pres. Obama Also Stated Optimistically "He Was Not Worried About The American Economy Experiencing A Double-Dip Recession".
Merkel backs Libya mission, joins Obama in call for Gadhafi to leave
German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday in saying Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi must step down, expressing support for the NATO military mission even though her country abstained from the U.N. Security Council vote that authorized it.
At a joint news conference at the White House, Merkel said Germany's participation in NATO operations shows its support for the Libya mission. She also noted that Germany has increased resources to the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan to free other countries to contribute to the Libya mission.
"It is our joint will that this NATO mission is successful," Merkel said of the Libya operation, adding that what happens in North Africa affects Europe. "Those are our immediate neighbors, and we have a choice. Either this works out well, or we have an enormous refugee problem. and so it's not only out of charity ... there's not only a moral obligation, but we have also a vested interest in seeing to it that this continent, this region comes on its feet."
Obama and Merkel also said they oppose unilateral actions by players in the Middle East peace process, including a push for a U.N. General Assembly vote on an independent Palestinian state. And Obama warned of possible new sanctions against Iran if an upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency report cites continued non-compliance involving the nation's nuclear energy program.
Both played down any major differences in how they think their countries and the international community should deal with continuing economic challenges.
On the United States, Obama said he isn't concerned about a possible double-dip recession, but added he is concerned that the nation's economic recovery is not creating jobs more quickly. Merkel diplomatically said she has confidence that the United States will deal with its economic issues.
The news conference included some minor unscripted moments, such as Merkel stumbling as the pair walked to the microphones and later shutting off her cell phone when it rang while Obama was speaking.
The two leaders were meeting for the 10th time as part of Merkel's official visit to Washington that includes a state dinner Tuesday night where she will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Obama and Merkel emphasized the cooperative and vital relationship between their countries, with Obama paying special tribute to the German chancellor.
In addition to their 10 meetings, he said, the two communicate regularly by phone and video conference.
"There's hardly any global issue where we don't consult one another," Obama said, adding, "I trust her."
Merkel received an official welcome to the White House earlier Tuesday in a ceremony marked by pomp and circumstance, a major honor for an ally who at times has differed on key issues from her American counterparts.
During talks on Tuesday morning, the two leaders discussed a range of economic and security topics, including the turmoil in the Middle East and the shaky global economy.
At the news conference afterward, Obama said the situation in Europe -- where Greece and some other countries face mounting debt crises that threaten to drag down the global economy -- involves "tough" politics.
"You recall how difficult it was for us to make investments in our own auto industry or to make sure that we didn't have a financial meltdown here," the president said. "Well, imagine if you're having to make those same decisions with 27 other countries with respect to somebody else's economic problems."
He expressed confidence that "Germany's leadership, along with other key actors in Europe, will help us arrive at a path for Greece to return to growth, for this debt to become more manageable. but it's going to require some patience and some time." He pledged full U.S. cooperation, including working through international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.
"We think it would be disastrous for us to see an uncontrolled spiral and default in Europe, because that could trigger a whole range of other events," Obama said. "And I think Angela shares that same view. and so we're going to have to work through this issue methodically, and we will be supportive in any ways that we can to make sure that all of the best ideas are brought to bear on the problem."
In welcoming Merkel earlier, Obama said the German-U.S. alliance "at its core is a partnership between two peoples."
"The story of Germany and our alliance in the 20th century shows what's possible in the 21st," Obama said. "Wars can end, adversaries can become allies, walls can come down. At long last, nations can be whole and can be free."
Obama also referenced his unique status as America's first African-American president, as well as Merkel's as Germany's first female chancellor.
"It's obvious that neither of us looks exactly like the leaders who preceded us," he said. "The fact that we can stand here today as president of the United States and chancellor of a united Germany is a testament to the progress and freedom that is possible in our world."
Merkel praised America's role in the Cold War, noting that "when Germany and Europe were divided by the war and barbed wire, America consistently stood on the side of freedom."
"This we shall never forget," she said. "Europe and Germany have no better partner than America."
Washington and Berlin, however, have been at odds in recent months over the NATO-led war in Libya, among other things. Germany abstained from the U.N. Security Council vote establishing a no-fly zone over the North African country.
In April, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared in a speech in Germany that "the world did not wait for another Srebrenica in a place called Benghazi," referring to the site of a Bosnian massacre and the Libyan rebel stronghold that was under siege by forces loyal to Gadhafi.
On the economic front, Germany continues to expand its trade surplus with record exports, causing critics to complain it should boost domestic consumption to ease the imbalance as part of global efforts to quicken recovery from the recession.
Merkel advocates tough austerity measures for European Union colleagues, and recently decided to close all of Germany's nuclear power plants in coming years in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that caused reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Obama, facing a tough political fight over Republican demands to shrink the government to reduce the federal deficit and national debt, calls for continued investment in education, infrastructure and clean energy while cutting wasteful spending and raising taxes on people with the highest incomes.
His administration proposes a broad energy policy that increases domestic oil production as well as nuclear power while pushing to develop solar and wind energy production to compete in a growing global market.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney noted Monday that because Merkel is a head of government, rather than a head of state, her trip has been labeled an official visit rather than a state visit. But Tuesday night's gathering, he stressed, will be a state dinner.
View Larger Map
Sources: Bloomberg News, CNN, Forbes, MSNBC, Youtube, Google Maps
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment