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Obama meets German Chancellor Merkel to discuss Iran and global finances
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AP Photo/ Pablo Martinez
It was a bustling international crowd in the East Room of the White House that received President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel today.
There has been a difference of opinion regarding the state of global financial crisis between the two leaders. Merkel has been critical of Obama leading up to her September elections. At today’s briefing she said: “You have made very important steps here in the United States as regards financial market regulation. We and the European Union are also working on that. And in the summer of this year we can then sort of take stock and see where these regulations meet, and try to create a level playing field for the rest of the world.”
Obama said, “As we prepare for the G8 summit in Italy and look ahead to the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, we agreed on the need to avoid protectionism and to embrace concerted, collective action that creates sustainable growth and shared prosperity.”
Merkel and Obama have met twice, at NATO in France and earlier this month when Obama visited Buchenwald, a former Nazi concentration camp.
Merkel expressed concern for the situation in Iran and the escalating violence. “Iran cannot count on the world community turning a blind eye to this. We are able to see this through images. My own experience from the GDR tells me that it is so important than one knows when one is in such a situation that people somewhere else in the world are knowledgeable of what is happening to you,” Merkel said.
Obama was more cautious saying, “on the Iranian issue, I think that we are still waiting to see how the situation in Iran plays out. Obviously, I continue to be deeply disturbed by reports of violence that are taking place there.”
While Merkel spoke German at the press briefing, a member of her traveling press told me that she speaks English. “During the official events it is important that she is quoted in German,” the visiting journalist said. He noted, "In a brief meeting, the Chancellor might speak English, but she'll speak German with translators for more official events like today."
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