WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) — President Barack Obama welcomed German President Joachim Gauck to the White House on Wednesday, where the leaders praised each other’s government for ongoing allegiance and discussed the migrant crisis in Europe.
The two presidents touched on a variety of topics during Wednesday’s meet — including the nuclear deal with Iran that Germany helped achieve.
“On a wide range of international issues — from the tragic situation in Syria and the need for a humane response to the refugee crisis, to a peaceful resolution that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon — the President’s voice has been clear in helping Germany make its mark on the world’s stage and serve as an incredibly important partner for us,” Obama said.
Gauck thanked Obama for the invitation and praised the Washington’s cooperation with Berlin, both in the present and in the past.
“Your invitation reaches me at the age — at a time where I’ve turned 75. And in that life span of mine, the United States of America have twice expressed their strong support for a cooperative development of Germany, and thus have had a positive influence on German development,” Gauck said through an interpreter. “Seventy years ago, Germany suffered a vast defeat [in WWII], a defeat that then turned into a liberation for the country. Many Americans gave their lives at that time in order to bring out that liberation.”
Regarding the migrant crisis, Obama pledged last month to accept 10,000 refugees who are attempting to flee war-torn Syria. That action was partly in response to criticisms that the president’s administration isn’t doing enough to help the situation.
“I am very grateful that you have raised a topic that has turned to a burning issue these days, one of the major problems on our agenda — that is, the present situation in Syria, which is very complicated and complex,” Gauck said to Obama. “We are much aware of the fact that this is a major humanitarian challenge that we have to address.”
