WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Washington Thursday to present her strategies for Germany's European Union and Group of Eight presidencies.
In a newspaper interview ahead of the trip, Merkel had called for closer economic cooperation between the United States and the EU, a move supported by most politicians in Germany. The German government, since Jan. 1, heads the EU and G8 presidencies.
Merkel and U.S. President George W. Bush are also expected to discuss Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process.
Observers say Bush will in addition stress common goals when it comes to climate protection, an issue high on the agenda of the German G8 summit in June in Heiligendamm, northeastern Germany.
The opposition has called on the German chancellor to demand from Bush a clarification on the future U.S. strategy to stabilize Iraq. But during her working meetings with Bush, Merkel is expected to be a bit less aggressive than some German politicians would like.
"A country that rightly decided not to participate with military on the ground in Iraq will have to hold one's horses when it comes to giving advice for a military strategy," Karsten Voigt, the coordinator for U.S.-German relations in the government, Thursday told German news channel n-tv.
Voigt added that Germany was ready to lend diplomatic help when it comes to dealing with states Washington is at unfriendly terms with, such as some Middle Eastern governments.
