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Obama welcomes German chancellor to White House

07 June 2011 20:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. With a formal welcome marked by a 19-gun salute extended to visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday spoke highly of transatlantic ties and described her as one of his "closest global partners", APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Merkel’s official visit is the first ever by a European leader during Obama’s presidency and the White House is slating a state dinner for Tuesday evening.

"It’s only fitting," Obama told his German guests on the White House South Lawn. "The transatlantic alliance is the cornerstone -- is the heart -- of our efforts to promote peace and prosperity around the world. And Germany -- at the heart of Europe -- is one of our strongest allies. And Chancellor Merkel is one of my closest global partners."

"At a time when some have asked whether the rise of new global powers means the decline of others, this visit reaffirms an enduring truth," Obama asserted. "Our alliances with nations like Germany are more important than ever. Indeed, they’re indispensable to global security and prosperity."

The White House said the two leaders will consult on a full agenda of foreign policy, security and economic issues, including ongoing NATO operations in Libya and Afghanistan, transitions in Egypt and Tunisia, the Middle East peace process, Iran’s nuclear program and the global economic recovery.

Germany abstained in February when the UN Security Council voted to authorize military action to protect Libyan civilians, and refused to participate in the enforcement of an arms embargo on Libya, prompting some in the United States to question Germany’ s commitment to transatlantic alliance.

Germany’s decision to close all 17 nuclear power plants in the country by 2022 is seen as another blow to Obama, who favors nuclear power as a priority.

In her speech at the welcome ceremony, Merkel said a close partnership with the United States is just as much part and parcel of Germany’s raison d’etre as is European integration. "Both belong together. Both are and remain the pillars of German foreign policy," she said.

Called a big admirer of the chancellor, Obama will present her on Tuesday evening the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

First elected in 2005, Merkel is the first woman and first East German to become chancellor of a unified Germany. Obama described her story as an inspiration to people around the world.

The White House last saw German chancellor Helmut Kohl come for an official visit in 1995.