Bush meets Merkel amid differences over Guantanamo, Iraq

US President George W. Bush met on Friday visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel amid differences over issues of Guantanamo, Iraq between the two countries.

Bush indirectly rejected a suggestion by Merkel that the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, should be closed as he said that Guantanamo is "a necessary part of protecting the American people" at the joint press conference after their meeting.

"There sometimes have been differences of opinion, I mentioned Guantanamo in this respect," Merkel said.

As to Iraq, Bush said: "We've had our disagreements on Iraq. Obviously, it has been a difficult issue in our relationship, and I fully understand that," Bush said, adding that in spite of the disagreements, both countries "share the desire for the Iraqi people to live in freedom."

On the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program, both leaders called on Iran to back away from the current standoff over its nuclear program as Bush said that Iran must not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon "to blackmail or threaten the world."

This was the first visit to the United States by Merkel after she took office after only eight weeks. Merkel has signalled the need for warmer relations with the United States.

Source: Xinhua