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"Dann muss eine neue Runde von Sanktionen beschlossen werden" / "We also have to then talk and agree on further possible sanctions"

Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und US-Präsident Bush über Iran, Afghanistan und den Nahen Osten / President Bush and Chancellor Merkel talked about Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East

Im Folgenden dokumentieren wir die Pressekonferenz, die Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel und ihr Gastgeber, US-Präsident George W. Bush, am 10. November 2007 auf seiner Ranch im texanischen Crawford gemeinsam abhielten.
Das Weiße Haus veröffentlichte die ganze Konferenz in Englisch, die Website der Bundesregierung bietet lediglich die deutsch gesprochenen Passagen von Frau Merkel an. Da hätte man sich schon die Mühe machen sollen, die englisch gesprochenen Teile des US-Präsidenten ins Deutsche zu übersetzen.*
Wir dokumentieren den vollständigen Text (also auch Merkels Beiträge, die ins Englische übersetzt wurden) in Englisch sowie die Texte der Kanzlerin auch in Deutsch.
Weitere Informationen zum Staatsbesuch hier: Ein Herz und eine Seele

* Nicht die Bundesregierung, sondern die US-Botschaft hat immerhin das Eingangsstatement von Bush ins Deutsche übersetzt (Übersetzung: Amerika Dienst). Wir dokumentieren auch diesen Text.



President Bush and Chancellor Merkel of Germany Participate in a Joint Press Availability

Prairie Chapel Ranch, Crawford, Texas

Pressekonferenz Merkel und Bush in Crawford

> am Samstag, dem 10. November 2007, 11.44 Uhr (Ortszeit), in Crawford

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you for coming. The Chancellor and I had a series of discussions on important subjects, starting with a dinner we had last night. And then we got up this morning and had the wonderful opportunity to walk across some of the ranch. It was a glorious morning. The sun was beginning to rise, the birds were beginning to chirp. And we were able to have a meaningful discussion on a lot of issues. And then we completed our discussions here in what is my office.

I'm really glad you gave me an excuse to come down to Texas. And I'm really glad you and Professor Sauer came. You can imagine how conducive it is to have meaningful, strategic discussions in an environment outside of our respective capitals. And that's what we did.

We discussed Afghanistan. I do want to thank the German people for their strong support of this young democracy. And I appreciate the German troops who are far from home who are helping people realize the blessings of liberty.

We discussed Iran and our deep desire to solve this important issue diplomatically. And I believe we can solve it diplomatically, and it is more likely we do so when the United States, Germany, and other nations work collaboratively to send a common and firm message to the Iranians that it is -- the free world does not think you should have the capacity to be able to make a nuclear weapon. And we will work according -- together accordingly.

We talked about Iraq. I want to thank Chancellor Merkel for understanding that success in Iraq is important for Middle Eastern peace. I fully understand that our nations have had difference of opinion on this issue, but now that this Iraqi democracy is emerging, I really appreciate the fact that Germany has been a constructive partner in the Compact -- constructive partner with Iraq in the Compact. And I appreciate very much the fact that the German government is committed to help train police in the UAE.

I want to thank the Chancellor for her clear vision on issues such as Kosovo and Burma and Lebanon. We discussed the Middle Eastern peace. The upcoming Annapolis conference is an important moment as we head toward two states living side by side in peace.

We had a very good discussion on Doha, and the need for Germany and Europe and the United States to work closely together with developing nations such as Brazil and India to advance the Doha Round. I appreciated very much the Chancellor's briefing on her trip to India. It helps a lot for those of us who are engaged in international politics to get advice from people who have seen firsthand the attitudes and -- of important players such as India.

And finally, we had a meaningful and long discussion on climate change. And once again I assured Angela that I care deeply about the issue; that the United States is willing to be an active participant and try to come up with solutions that bring comfort to people around the world; that it is possible to have the technologies necessary to deal with this issue without ruining our economies. It's hard to deal with the climate change issue if you're broke. It's easier to deal with the climate change issue if you've got the revenues and finances that enable you to invest in new technologies that will change how we live, and at the same time enable us to grow our economies, and at the same time enable us to be good stewards of the environment.

Übersetzung: Eingangsstatement von US-Präsident George W. Bush

Danke, dass Sie gekommen sind. Die Bundeskanzlerin und ich haben eine Reihe wichtiger Themen besprochen, angefangen mit einem gemeinsamen Abendessen gestern. Heute Morgen sind wir aufgestanden und hatten die wunderbare Gelegenheit zu einem Spaziergang über die Ranch. Es war ein herrlicher Morgen. Die Sonne ging gerade auf und die Vögel fingen an zu zwitschern. Wir führten gute Gespräche über zahlreiche Themen, die wir dann in meinem Büro beendet haben.

Frau Bundeskanzlerin, ich bin wirklich froh, dass Ihr Besuch mir einen Vorwand gegeben hat, nach Texas zu kommen. Und ich freue mich sehr, dass Sie und Professor Sauer gekommen sind. Sie können sich vorstellen, wie wichtig es ist, bedeutende, strategische Diskussionen in einem Umfeld außerhalb unserer jeweiligen Hauptstädte zu führen. Und genau das haben wir getan.

Wir haben über Afghanistan gesprochen. Ich möchte den Deutschen für ihre starke Unterstützung für diese junge Demokratie danken. Ich danke den deutschen Soldaten, die weit weg von Zuhause Menschen helfen, die Segnungen der Freiheit zu verwirklichen.

Wir haben über Iran gesprochen und unseren innigen Wunsch, dieses wichtige Thema diplomatisch zu lösen. Ich bin der Meinung, dass wir es diplomatisch lösen können, und unsere Chancen sind größer, wenn die Vereinigten Staaten, Deutschland und weitere Nationen zusammen daran arbeiten, den Iranern eine gemeinsame und entschlossene Botschaft zu übermitteln: dass die freie Welt nicht der Meinung ist, Iran sollte die Kapazitäten haben, eine Nuklearwaffe zu bauen. Und wir werden hierbei zusammenarbeiten.

Wir haben über den Irak gesprochen. Ich möchte der Bundeskanzlerin dafür danken, dass Sie versteht, dass Erfolg im Irak wichtig für den Frieden im Nahen Osten ist. Ich bin mir vollkommen bewusst, dass unsere Länder bei diesem Thema Meinungsverschiedenheiten hatten, aber jetzt, da die irakische Demokratie entsteht, bin ich wirklich dankbar dafür, dass Deutschland ein konstruktiver Vertragspartner für den Irak ist. Und ich weiß es sehr zu schätzen, dass die deutsche Regierung sich bei der Polizeiausbildung in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten engagiert.

Ich möchte der Bundeskanzlerin für ihre visionäre Kraft bei Themen wie dem Kosovo, Birma und dem Libanon danken. Wir haben über den Frieden im Nahen Osten gesprochen. Die anstehende Konferenz in Annapolis ist ein wichtiger Meilenstein auf dem Weg zu zwei Staaten, die in Frieden nebeneinander leben.

Wir hatten ein sehr gutes Gespräch zur Verhandlungsrunde von Doha und der Notwendigkeit, dass Deutschland, Europa und die Vereinigten Staaten eng mit Entwicklungsländern wie Brasilien und Indien zusammenarbeiten, um die Doha-Runde voranzubringen. Ich war auch sehr dankbar für den Bericht der Kanzlerin über ihre Reise nach Indien. Es ist sehr hilfreich, wenn man als internationaler Politiker Ratschläge von Personen bekommt, die die Standpunkte wichtiger Akteure wie Indien vor Ort erfahren haben.

Schließlich hatten wir noch ein interessantes und langes Gespräch über den Klimawandel. Ich habe Angela wieder versichert, dass mir dieses Thema sehr am Herzen liegt, dass die Vereinigten Staaten Willens sind, einen aktiven Beitrag zu leisten und Lösungen zum Nutzen der Menschen finden wollen, und dass es möglich ist, die dafür notwendigen Technologien zu entwickeln, ohne unseren Volkswirtschaften zu schaden. Es ist schwer, sich mit dem Thema Klimawandel zu befassen, wenn man kein Geld hat. Es ist einfacher, sich mit dem Klimawandel auseinanderzusetzen, wenn man über die Einnahmen und Finanzen verfügt, die es einem ermöglichen, in neue Technologien zu investieren, die unsere Art zu leben verändern, und gleichzeitig unsere Volkswirtschaften wachsen lassen und gut für die Natur sind.


CHANCELLOR MERKEL: (As translated.) Well, yes, thank you very much, Mr. President, dear George. First of all, allow me to thank you very warmly for the possibility to meet with you here in Texas and to have this exchange of views. I would also like to extend this word of gratitude to you on behalf of my husband, who accompanies me here to this, what we also in Germany would call a very beautiful spot, a very beautiful part of this planet, of this world. It enables us to appreciate a little bit the vastness of the territory here, and also the beauty and the sheer variety of species that you have here.

So we again were able to see this for ourselves this morning. Thank you again for making this possible to have this stroll with you and to appreciate the beauty of this part, and to have again an exchange of views on a number of subjects.

Deutscher Text:
BK'in Merkel: Sehr geehrter Herr Präsident, lieber George, ich möchte mich zuerst für diese Möglichkeit bedanken, hier in Texas diese Gespräche zu führen, auch im Namen meines Mannes. Es ist ein wunderschönes Fleckchen Erde, wie man in Deutschland sagen würde, das etwas von der amerikanischen Weite und der Vielfalt der Landschaft zeigt. Herzlichen Dank dafür, dass wir heute Morgen die Möglichkeit zum Spaziergang hatten. Das war eine wirklich neuartige Erfahrung.


PRESIDENT BUSH: Jawohl. (Laughter.)

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: (Translation continues.) Let me say, first of all, that we did make the best possible use of our time to exchange our views on a number of issues. We did talk about Afghanistan, as the President already said, where we just recently were, and where we say that together with the Afghan government, we need to do more in order to help them continue to build up the police and to continue to also build up the army there, improve that, and go on with the training that we have already embarked on.

We addressed the issue of Iran. We were at one in saying that the threat posed through the nuclear program of Iran is indeed a serious one. We both share this view, but that we also were of the opinion that we think that this issue can be solved through diplomatic means; that the next step, then, obviously, would be a resolution. There is already work underway to prepare for this next step.

We have also been very clear in saying that if the talks with the representatives of Iran and Mr. Solana, as the representative on the European Union side, do not yield any results, then further steps will have to be made. Also, if the reports remain unsatisfactory that the International Atomic Energy Organization puts on the table, unsatisfactory, 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, if all of these conditions are [not] met.

We then also said that Germany needs to look somewhat closer at the existing business ties with Iran. There are certain companies that have business with Iran. We have already done that. And we need to look, as the situation unfolds, whether we have 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, as we have already launched that in that tendency already now.

We then addressed the issue of the Middle East. And I said that it is in the interest of the German government, and we will indeed do everything we can to support all of the efforts that the American administration is making in order to turn the upcoming conference in Anapolis into a success. We want the peace process to make progress, and we think that the conference, the upcoming conference in Anapolis is indeed a possibility to bring this success about.

We then had an exchange of views on the current situation in Lebanon. Germany having a contingent there, serving with the UNIFIL mission, obviously has a very great interest in seeing the situation there stabilizing and progress being made in that country. And also we assured the government of Mr. Siniora of our continued support. We would like to -- for his government to be a strong one, and we think it is in our interests, in both of our interests that this situation remains stable.

On Kosovo, we did discuss this issue, as well. There are currently talks going on, and indeed those talks are heading into a crucial phase. We call at this point in time on both the Kosovo side and the Serbian side to try their utmost to bring about a sensible solution to the problem there -- and what we can do to foster that, we will do.

We did discuss also -- the President raised this issue also with me of the world trade round. We then discussed also the issue of the United Nations reform of the Security Council, and there we do think that it will be necessary to have further exchanges on that particular issue, and we do hope that -- some progress has been made already in this respect, and we hope further progress will be underway. We're going to continue to talk about that.

We then obviously also discussed the issue of the upcoming climate conference in Bali. And I think that this is a very good chance of turning this conference into a success. There are a lot of things where the U.S. and the European Union share views, where we are at one, and where I think that possibilities for cooperation may unfold. There are still -- there are also areas where we do not completely agree yet, where there are differences of opinion, but I think that this is a very crucial time to really set the agenda for a post-Kyoto regime. And we do hope and we will do everything we can in order to turn this conference in Indonesia into a success.

Deutscher Text (Fortsetzung):
BK'in Merkel: Wir haben die Zeit genutzt, um uns über eine Vielzahl von Fragen auszutauschen und zu verständigen. Es ging um das Thema Afghanistan, bezüglich dessen wir vor allen Dingen auch darüber gesprochen haben, wie wir gemeinsam mit der afghanischen Regierung Vorstellungen über den Polizeiaufbau und den Armeeaufbau verbessern und voranbringen können.

Wir haben natürlich über das Thema Iran gesprochen. Die Bedrohung durch das Nuklearprogramm des Iran ist ernst. Aber wir sind gemeinsam der Überzeugung, dass diese Bedrohung diplomatisch gelöst werden kann. Wir sind entschieden dafür, diesbezüglich die nächsten Schritte zu gehen, die auch schon festgelegt bzw. vorbereitet sind. Das heißt, wenn die Gespräche mit den Vertretern des Iran und dem Repräsentanten der Europäischen Union, Solana, nicht vorankommen und wenn die Berichte der IAEO nach wie vor unzufriedenstellend sind, dann muss über eine neue Runde von Sanktionen nachgedacht werden - und nicht nur nachgedacht werden, sondern dann muss das auch beschlossen werden.

Darüber hinaus habe ich gesagt, dass sich Deutschland noch einmal die wirtschaftlichen Kontakte der bundesdeutschen Unternehmen mit dem Iran anschauen wird, und dass die Zeichen, wenn die Entwicklung weiterhin so negativ erfolgt, darauf gestellt sind, dass wir unsere Handelsaktivitäten auch einschränken werden. Ich werde darüber mit der deutschen Wirtschaft im Gespräch bleiben, wie es tendenziell jetzt schon der Fall ist.

Wir haben dann natürlich über die Probleme im Nahen Osten gesprochen. Ich habe noch einmal deutlich gemacht, dass die Bundesregierung alle Anstrengungen der Vereinigten Staaten unterstützt, die Konferenz in Annapolis zu einem Erfolg zu machen. Wir begleiten das, wir wollen, dass der Nahost-Friedensprozess vorankommt, und wir sind der Überzeugung, dass die Konferenz in Annapolis hierfür eine sehr gute Möglichkeit bietet.

Wir haben uns genauso über den Prozess im Libanon ausgetauscht. Deutschland hat UNIFIL-Truppen an der dortigen Küste und ein hohes Interesse daran, dass die Präsidentschaftswahlen dort vorankommen und die Regierung Siniora gestärkt wird. Insofern ist das auch ein gemeinsames Interesse.

Wir haben über den Kosovo gesprochen. Die Gespräche gehen jetzt in eine entscheidende Phase, und ich kann beide Seiten - Serbien und auch die Kosovaren - nur aufrufen, dass alles daran gesetzt wird, eine vernünftige Lösung zu finden.

Wir haben uns über die Welthandelsrunde ausgetauscht; der Präsident hat darüber gesprochen.

Wir haben über die Reform des UN-Sicherheitsrates gesprochen, die wir beide als eine Notwendigkeit ansehen. Wir haben auch Gedanken darüber ausgetauscht, die vielleicht ein Stück voranführen werden.

Wir haben natürlich auch über die Klimakonferenz in Bali gesprochen und dieses Thema ausführlich diskutiert. Ich glaube, dass es eine gute Chance dafür gibt, dass die Bali-Konferenz erfolgreich sein wird. Auf jeden Fall gibt es diesbezüglich eine Vielzahl gemeinsamer Positionen zwischen den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und der Europäischen Union, wenngleich es auch immer noch Punkte gibt, bezüglich derer wir natürlich unterschiedlicher Meinung sind. Aber hinsichtlich dessen, die Agenda für ein Post-Kyoto-Abkommen festzulegen, kann die Konferenz in Indonesien ein Erfolg werden, und wir werden gemeinsam daran arbeiten.


PRESIDENT BUSH: Two questions a side. John Yang.

Q Mr. President, this morning, Benazir Bhutto said that the Pakistani people's passion for liberty is threatening to explode. First, have you had any more further discussions with General Musharraf? And are you concerned that the continuing unrest within Pakistan is distracting that country's leadership and military from the struggle against the Taliban and al Qaeda?

PRESIDENT BUSH: First on al Qaeda, we do share a common goal, and that is to eradicate al Qaeda. That goal obviously became paramount to the American people when al Qaeda killed 3,000 innocent souls on our soil. And since then, the United States of America, along with strong allies and friends, has been in pursuit of al Qaeda.

I vowed to the American people we'd keep the pressure on them. I fully understand we need cooperation to do so, and one country that we need cooperation from is Pakistan. That cooperation has been made easier by the fact that al Qaeda has tried to kill leaders in Pakistan several times. And so we share a common goal.

Secondly, we share a goal with the Pakistani people, and that is to live in a free society. I haven't spoken to President Musharraf since I did earlier this week, but he knows my position, and he knows the position of the U.S. government. I do want to remind you that he has declared that he'll take off his uniform, and he has declared there will be elections, which are positive steps.

We also believe that suspension of the emergency decree will make it easier for the democracy to flourish. And so our message is consistent and clear. Our message is also clear to al Qaeda: We will find you and we'll bring you to justice before you can hurt innocent people.

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's good to see you again.

Q Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BUSH: You're looking like a cowboy.

Q Yes, well, I try. The boots are missing.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, okay. (Laughter.)

Q But, Mr. President, is it right to say that you have much more a multilateral approach towards the solutions of the problems of the world than you had maybe two years ago?

And the question to both of you: How much patience do you have with Iran? When is the time when diplomacy doesn't work anymore? And do you think that the Chinese and Russian government is doing enough in the Iran crisis?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I felt I was pretty multilateral the first four years of my administration. After all, I went to the United Nations on the Iraq issue and on the Afghanistan issue, and said, we got a problem; let's work together to solve it. I would like to remind you that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 was unanimously approved by 15 nations, and the declaration was, disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. And in the case of -- in that case, the tyrant didn't disclose and so he faced serious consequences.

I happen to be the kind of person that when somebody says something they better mean what they say. And although some nations didn't agree with that, there was a multilateral effort in Iraq from the get-go, and there's been a multilateral effort since the fall of Saddam Hussein. And it's important for the multilateral effort to continue because democracies are the great alternative to the tyrannies espoused by cold-blooded killers, such as al Qaeda.

Now, on Iran, what the Iranian regime must understand is that we will continue to work together to solve this problem diplomatically, which means they will continue to be isolated. And what the Iranian people must understand is that we respect their heritage and respect their traditions, respect their potential, but it's their government that has made the decisions that are denying them a bright future. And so we'll continue to work very closely together.

And finally, I don't feel comfortable answering your hypothetical question as to --

Q China and Russia?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Oh, excuse me, that's not hypothetical. I thought you were saying, how long. Yes, well, that falls in the hypothetical category.

China and Russia, we working hard with them. My last visit with the Chinese President was in Sydney, Australia, and I told him the top of my agenda is Iran. And I fully understand that China has got energy needs, but a sure way to disrupt energy supply not only in Iran and the Middle East, if the Iranians were to develop a nuclear weapon and decided to do something with it. And so, therefore, now is the time to solve the problem.

And I had a good talk with Vladimir Putin on the very same subject. He understands that a nuclear-armed Iran will be dangerous to his security and the security of the world. And no responsible leader wants the Iranians to be able to threaten world peace.

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: (As translated.) Well, the next diplomatic step, after all, has already been devised, has already been envisaged, and is there to be taken, as it were. But for this next diplomatic step to work we obviously then again will need the engagement, we will need the support of both China and Russia. And let me say that I am deeply convinced that if the Security -- if the United Nations Security Council were then to announce sanctions, that this would be the clearest message that you can get, that you can send, and the clearest message that you can convey to Iran, irrespective of the possibilities, obviously, of individual countries also sending that clear message, European countries, as well. But I think at least that is true for me, at the center of all of our efforts has to be sanctions that will then be called by the United Nations Security Council.

Let me say also that I'm deeply convinced that the diplomatic possibilities have not yet been exhausted, diplomatic possibilities are there; that we can solve this by using diplomatic means, and also we want to solve this by diplomatic means.

BK'in Merkel: Wir haben den nächsten diplomatischen Schritt ja jetzt schon im Visier und ihn festgelegt. Dieser diplomatische Schritt erfordert wieder das Engagement auch Russlands und Chinas. Ich bin zutiefst davon überzeugt, dass, wenn der UN-Sicherheitsrat Sanktionen verkündet, dies die stärkste Botschaft an den Iran ist, unbeschadet der Tatsache, dass jedes Land - das gilt natürlich auch für europäische Länder - noch etwas dazu tun kann. Aber im Zentrum stehen für mich die Sanktionen des UN-Sicherheitsrates. Ich bin zutiefst davon überzeugt, dass die diplomatischen Möglichkeiten existieren, dass man dieses Problem diplomatisch lösen kann und dass wir es auch diplomatisch lösen wollen.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Steven Lee Myers. Would that be you?

Q Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Step forth, Steven Lee.

Q I wanted to follow up a bit on Pakistan, if I may.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Sure.

Q Are you at all concerned that General Musharraf may not live up to the promises that you said he's made to you? And are you concerned, as Secretary Gates suggested yesterday, that the distraction, the internal turmoil in Pakistan is actually -- or could have an effect on the effort in Afghanistan? Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Steven Lee. 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. I can tell you this, that President Musharraf, right after the attacks on September the 11th, made a decision, and the decision was to stand with the United States against the extremists inside Pakistan. In other words, he was given an option: Are you with us, or are you not with us? And he made a clear decision to be with us, and he's acted on that advice.

I want to remind you that if you're the chief operating officer of al Qaeda, you haven't had a good experience. There has been four or five number threes that have been brought to justice one way or the other. And many of those folks thought they could find safe haven in Pakistan. And that would not have happened without President Musharraf honoring his word.

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 the dangers of al Qaeda, because al Qaeda is a group of ideologues who murder innocent people to achieve their political objectives.

And so I believe that 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, proceed as -- back on track as quickly as possible. President Musharraf said that he would take off his uniform; he said there will be elections after the new year. And our hope is that he would suspend this emergency decree to allow this society, which is on the path to democracy, to get back on the path to democracy.

And I think about this issue a lot. One of the things that I pledged to the American people is that we will continue the hunt for al Qaeda leadership. They're still plotting and planning attacks on the United States of America. And our most important responsibility is to protect the American people from attack. I will also remind people that the great alternative to their vision -- their dark, dim vision for humanity -- is freedom. Freedom has got the capacity to turn enemies into allies. Freedom has got the capacity to bring peace. And that's why the work to help these young democracies is vital work for the peace for our children and grandchildren.

And that's why I applaud the Chancellor's efforts in Afghanistan, and her concerns about the democracy in Lebanon, and her desire for there to be a Palestinian democracy, and to help -- the willingness to begin to help this young democracy in Iraq. It's all part of this global struggle against extremists and radicals who murder people, who will kill people to achieve their objective. And the fundamental question is, will free societies have the will, the courage and the determination to stand up to them? And one of the things I have found in this leader is she does have that vision. And I appreciate it a lot.

Q It's on reforming the United Nations. Could you tell us please, both, what kind of progress that you made in your talks on this issue. And more specific to you, Mr. President, the German government in the past frequently declared to be ready to take more responsibilities within the United Nations, including a permanent seat in the Security Council. So far you haven't been very positive on that. Tell us why.

PRESIDENT BUSH: (Laughter.) You're right, I've been studiously noncommital. I have taken a position, which is the long-held position of U.S. governments, and that is, Japan should have a seat. Beyond that, I've made no commitment, except this: that we're for U.N. Security Council reforms, and that I'm willing to listen to good ideas. And Angela brought up some good ideas today. And so --

Q -- (inaudible) --

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's up to her to tell you. I don't like to put words in leaders' mouths. I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it. But she can tell you what she came up with.

But I will tell you that it intrigued me, and my -- as I said -- listen, I stood up in front of the U.N. and said precisely what I'm telling you now, that we're open-minded. There's a good non-answer for you. (Laughter.)

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: (As translated.) Well, from my side, the people who know me know me as a person who is sort of success-oriented, in the sense that I don't think one ought to comment each step on the way towards a success. But the message that I received today, and that was a very heartening message, was that the President and the administration of the United States are interested in the reform of the U.N. Security Council. And in this overall complex of issues that relates to that, they will also, obviously, be of interest who will then be the members of that reformed Security Council.

I, for me personally, see this issue of a Security Council reform to be a very important one. But what is also important, obviously, is to try to enlist the support of the other very important countries who are members of the Security Council, and particularly those countries that have veto powers in the Security Council, to see to it that they have also a great interest in seeing the Security Council reformed.

So in this overall context, it has certainly been a good message that I heard today, that there is also an interest in that. Here I found this with the President today. And now we will have to keep an eye on further steps to be taken along the way in order to achieve that goal. We will try and find allies for this cause. And again, it is in Germany's interest, as I said previously in public, to have a permanent seat on the Security Council. We will not call on each and every country that we talk to, to comment on each and every step along the way. We're going to continue to work towards reform. And I think it is of the essence that we have heard here today, and this is why this was such an important message. That is not only in the interests of Germany, but is also an interest that was explained to us here and clearly stated by the U.S. administration.

BK'in Merkel: Ich bin ja als ein erfolgsorientierter Mensch bekannt. Insofern werde ich hier nicht gleich jeden Zwischenstand öffentlich mitteilen. Aber was für mich wichtig war, ist die Botschaft, dass der amerikanische Präsident und die amerikanische Regierung ein Interesse an einer Reform des UN-Sicherheitsrates haben. Dazu gehört unter anderem die Frage, wer in Zukunft Mitglied sein kann, aber dazu gehören auch viele andere Fragen. Ich halte diese UN-Sicherheitsratsreform für sehr wichtig. Sie wird aber nur gelingen, wenn andere wichtige Länder ‑ insbesondere die Vetomächte im Sicherheitsrat ‑ ein Interesse an dieser Reform haben; und das ist heute eine gute Botschaft in diesem Sinne gewesen.

Bezüglich dessen, wie wir jetzt weiter vorgehen werden, ist es, glaube ich, besser, wenn wir die Schritte einmal im Auge behalten und versuchen, Verbündete zu finden. Deutschland hat ein Interesse daran, einen permanenten Sitz zu haben. Dass nicht jede einzelne Zwischenstufe durch jedes Land kommentiert werden kann, ist auch klar. Wir werden auf diesem Weg weiterarbeiten. Für mich heißt die wichtige Botschaft von heute: Eine Reform ist gewünscht, nicht nur von Deutschland, sondern auch von den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika.


PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm now going to go feed the Chancellor a hamburger. (Laughter.) Right here, Crawford, Texas. No, well, I mean back over there. Thank you all.

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: Obviously, for me, as a person who originally came from Hamburg --

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.

CHANCELLOR MERKEL: -- it's even more important.

BK'in Merkel: Das ist für mich als eine Hamburgerin natürlich eine wunderbare Sache.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Hamburger.

Thank you.

Chancellor Merkel: Thank you.

Quellen:
  • Website der Bundesregierung: www.bundesregierung.de
  • Website des Weißen Hauses: www.whitehouse.gov



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