Secretary Rice Visiting Germany, France, U.K. To Discuss Iran

U.S. Department of State: The Washington File

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is traveling to Germany, France and the United Kingdom to consult with trans-Atlantic partners on the Iranian nuclear program and other issues, the State Department announced March 27. READ MORE

Rice, who plans to travel from March 29 to April 2, will visit Berlin and Paris, where she will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac, as well as other top officials, to discuss “the world’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program,” the statement said. (See related article.)

France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- collectively known as the EU-3 – had been negotiating with Iran to end its nuclear enrichment program.

In the United Kingdom, Rice plans to accompany U.K. Foreign Minister Jack Straw on visits to Liverpool and Blackburn. The visit mirrors a trip Straw and Rice made to Alabama in October 2005. (See related article.)

Following is the text of the State Department announcement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 27, 2006

STATEMENT BY SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN

Secretary Rice to Travel to Europe

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Germany, France and the United Kingdom from March 29-April 2, 2006. During the trip, she will consult with key European allies on the range of common challenges, including Iran, the United States is addressing with its transatlantic partners.

Secretary Rice's trip to Berlin and Paris will provide an opportunity to continue her dialogue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac and other top officials.

Her visit to the United Kingdom will take her to Liverpool and Blackburn, where she will accompany Foreign Minister Jack Straw. The trip mirrors that which the Secretary and the Foreign Minister made to Alabama last October, underscoring the shared values and cultural links between the United States and the United Kingdom.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)