Awwal 07, 1432, Feb 10, 2011, SPA - The head of Germany's central bank said Thursday he has agreed with Chancellor Angela Merkel not to talk publicly about whether he will pursue the European Central Bank's top job, according to AP. Axel Weber told reporters in Vienna, Austria that any decisions regarding his future, including whether he would seek a second term at head of the Bundesbank central bank, would be made in «close coordination» with Merkel. «I have told her that I won't comment on the matter until we can meet for new talks,» Weber said. «We will make all necessary decisions in close cooperation.» He refused to elaborate, amid news media speculation that he has withdrawn from consideration as a candidate to lead the ECB, which sets interest rates for the 17 countries that use the shared euro currency. Weber indicated earlier this week that he may not seek a new eight-year-term term at the Bundesbank when his current one expires next year. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Weber had a confidential phone conversation with Merkel on Wednesday, but gave no details. The 53-year-old has been widely discussed as one of the front-runners to replace Jean-Claude Trichet as ECB president when the Frenchman's term expires at the end of October. The German government hasn't yet officially thrown Weber's hat in the ring as a candidate to be the next ECB president, noting that Trichet's term only expires in the fall. Seibert reiterated the government's reticence again Wednesday, saying «this question is not relevant at the moment.» -- SPA
