President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Northern Ireland in June for the Group of Eight leading nations summit and will visit Berlin immediately afterwards “to reaffirm the strong ties” with Germany, Europe’s dominant economy, the White House said Friday.
The White House said the trip will start in Belfast June 17-18, where U.K Prime Minister David Cameron is hosting the G-8 meeting. The Obamas will visit Berlin from June 18-19 to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck. It will be his first trip to Berlin as president, though he went to Germany in 2009.
The President will travel to Berlin, Germany for an official visit to reaffirm the strong ties between the United States and Germany, our vital ally and economic partner,” White House said in a written statement announcing the trip.
The president’s trip to Europe comes as the European Union is still grappling with how to deal with the fiscal crisis and solve high unemployment in member countries. It also comes as the Obama administration is seeking international support against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr. Cameron is coming to the White House Monday to discuss Syria, counterterrorism and economic issues, the White House said Wednesday. Mr. Cameron’s visit will follow his trip to Russia Friday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Obama has said Mr. Assad must leave office as the bloody conflict in Syria has led to the death of more than 70,000. The Kremlin has said Mr. Assad has strong support in his country and therefore should be included in negotiations over the future of Syria.
Israel has warned the U.S. that Russia is planning to sell surface-to-air missile systems to Syria, a move that would make it difficult for the U.S. or other countries to intervene in its civil war.
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Sun May 12, 2013 9:19 pm
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