U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH PRAISED GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AS SOMEONE «WHO I AM PROUD TO CALL A FRIEND,» AS THE TWO LEADERS GOT A WARM RECEPTION THURSDAY FROM TOWNSPEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN PORT OF STRALSUND, MERKEL'S HOME DISTRICT, ACCORDING TO AP. HE PAID TRIBUTE TO MERKEL, SAYING «THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE GERMAN PEOPLE SEE THE SAME QUALITIES AND CHARACTER IN YOUR NATION'S LEADER.» «WE SEE BOLD VISION AND A HUMBLE HEART ... I RESPECT HER JUDGMENT AND I VALUE HER OPINION,» THE PRESIDENT SAID. BUSH IS STOPPING FOR TALKS WITH HIS NEWEST EUROPEAN ALLY BEFORE HEADING TO THE GROUP OF EIGHT SUMMIT TO TACKLE A HOST OF THORNY PROBLEMS INCLUDING IRAN, NORTH KOREA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST. HE HAS STRUCK UP A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH MERKEL THAN WITH HER PREDECESSOR, GERHARD SCHROEDER _ SUPPORT HE NEEDS ON DIFFICULT ISSUES SUCH AS IRAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST. BUSH SAID THAT GERMANS AND AMERICANS «SHARE COMMON VALUES AND COMMON INTERESTS.» «WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP THE PEACE. WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE FREEDOM. THERE'S SO MUCH WE CAN DO WORKING TOGETHER,» HE SAID. 13/07/2006 13:32 ت م
