Merkel in Washington for talks with Bush

May 3, 2006, 22:59 GMT

Washington - German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Washington on Wednesday for talks with US President George W Bush about the nuclear dispute with Iran and other topics.

Merkel was making her second trip to Washington since taking office in November as the United States and Germany seek to develop a strategy for countering Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Her visit comes after Britain and France, backed by the United States, proposed a UN Security Council resolution requiring Iran to comply with international demands to come clean on its nuclear activities and halt uranium enrichment.

Iran insists it nuclear programme is purely for energy purposes, while Washington believes it a shield for Iran to pursue atomic weapons.

The United States and European Union have worked to send a strong message to Iran that it must cooperate with international demands to disclose its nuclear work, but have faced resistance on the Security Council from veto-wielding powers China and Russia.

Merkel briefed Bush on the telephone last week after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and is expected to travel to China soon.

The United States, France, and Britain, the other three members of the Security Council who hold a veto, want a Chapter 7 resolution because it allows the council to punish Iran with sanctions, or even military force, if Tehran does not comply.

While supporting the effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Merkel opposes the use of military force - which Bush has not ruled out.

Merkel has sought to strengthen trans-Atlantic ties following the fallout in US-German relations over former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The White House largely considers the differences over the conflict as an issue of the past, and, unlike the first meeting between Bush and Merkel in January, see this one as an opportunity to work on important issues rather than for the two leaders to become acquainted.

'We're not still in the getting-to-know-you phase,' a senior White House official told a group of reporters in Washington.

The White House also praised Merkel for taking a strong stance on Iran and working diplomatically to find a solution to the crisis.

Other topics on the agenda are Hamas' leadership of the Palestinian authority, the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region and US efforts to get NATO to support peacekeeping there.

Bush and Merkel are scheduled to meet for about an hour before making an appearance before reporters. The two then plan a working dinner.

During her visit, Merkel will meet with business leaders in New York, and is scheduled to address the American Jewish Committee along with Bush on Thursday to mark the organization's 100th anniversary.