Merkel, Obama to discuss Afghanistan, Iran and Mideast peace process

BERLIN (IRNA) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to hold talks with the U.S. President Barack Obama on a series of international issues, among them Afghanistan, Iran and the Mideast peace process when she meets him in Washington on Tuesday, a German official said on Monday.

Addressing a routine press briefing in Berlin, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said the high-level talks will dwell on the future of the Afghanistan strategy, Iran's reply to the international mediation proposal and the latest developments in the Middle East peace process.

Other issues to be discussed at the Merkel-Obama meeting includes climate protection and the situation of the world economy, he added.

Merkel is also scheduled to address both chambers of the American Congress on Tuesday following an invitation by the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The German leader's speech in Congress is to zoom on the 20th anniversary fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and European-American relations.

Only one other chancellor, Konrad Adenauer in 1957, has addressed the U.S. Congress.

This will be Merkel's first visit to the U.S. since winning reelection on September 27.

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