Defense Minister Jung Meets With US Leaders

Washington: Minister Jung and Secretary Rice met at the State Department.

German Defense Minister Dr. Franz Josef Jung met with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and with National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley in Washington on December 19. It was Minister Jung’s first visit to Washington in his role as defense minister. Minister Jung’s talks centered on maintaining and further developing a close and trusting transatlantic relationship and partnership.

Minister Jung said he was pleased by the friendly atmosphere and positive basic outlook he found in his talks in Washington. He underscored in the meetings that the new German Government values a trusting relationship with the United States and that this relationship must now be placed on a better foundation. NATO plays an important role in that relationship. “We need the strong anchor of NATO,” he said.

Leaders: Minister Jung, here with Secretary Rumsfeld, underscored the importance of a trusting transatlantic relationship.

Jung’s meetings included discussions a number of common foreign security issues. Rumsfeld particularly recognized Germany’s role in Afghanistan, where German troops make up the largest contingent in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and in the Balkans, where Germany also supplies the largest troop contingent in international forces.

On Iraq, Jung said the US administration respects Germany’s position on not sending troops into Iraq and recognizes Germany’s supporting efforts, such as the training of Iraqi security forces in the United Arab Emirates and in Germany.

On Iran, Germany and the US agree that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear capabilities. Jung also stressed that the recent comments by the Iranian president denying the Holocaust and Israel’s right to exist are totally unacceptable and must be repudiated by the free civilizations of the world.

Meeting U.S. leaders in Washington during this pre-Christmas trip, coming after his first European trips, was especially important, Jung said. From Washington, he will travel to Djibouti to visit the German Navy contingent deployed there as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He will then travel to Kabul to visit the German troops serving in the International Security Assistance Force. Finally, Minister Jung will travel to Islamabad to visit German troops working on humanitarian aid for the earthquake devastated region and to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

December 19, 2005

Links

Leaders Sharply Condemn Statements by Iranian President
(December 14, 2005)

CV of Defense Minister Jung

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