January 14, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 13, 1426

WASHINGTON, Jan 13: US President George Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday differed on Guantanamo Bay, but vowed to seek a common approach on Iran as they opened a new, improved chapter in US-German relations.

Mr Bush’s relationship with Ms Merkel’s predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, was often edgy given Mr Schroeder’s opposition to US policy in Iraq. With Ms Merkel offering a chance to start afresh, Mr Bush immediately appeared to strike up a warm relationship with her in their first Oval Office meeting since she took office.

“You know, my first impressions in 45 minutes alone in the Oval Office were incredibly positive. She’s smart. She’s plenty capable. She’s got kind of a spirit to her that is appealing. She loves freedom,” Mr Bush said with Ms Merkel at his side in a joint East Room news conference.

He noted he and Ms Merkel both had close elections. “One thing in common, we both didn’t exactly ‘landslide’ our way into office.”

Ms Merkel seemed pleased as well. “I think I made a little start in the right direction, so in about six months you may ask me again whether I’ve been able to add a few more chapters to it,” she said of the new relationship.

GUANTANAMO WORRIES: Ms Merkel came to Washington expressing concern about the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, saying it should not exist indefinitely. At the news conference, the two leaders politely disagreed.

Mr Bush was insistent it remain open for the time being and said the suspected terrorists held there are being treated humanely while U.S. courts determine whether they should be tried in military or civilian courts.

“Guantanamo is a necessary part of protecting the American people. And so long as the war on terror goes on, and so long as there’s a threat, we will inevitably need to hold people that would do ourselves harm,” he said.

Merkel said a reform of international law needs to be made at the United Nations covering such suspects and that the issue was part of the “permanent dialogue between our two countries, where we really need to debate how we wish to proceed further.”—Reuters