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Britain, Germany Agree Iran Crisis Must Be Solved Diplomatically

17 February 2006 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair today said Britain and Germany have agreed that the dispute over Iran's nuclear program must be resolved through diplomatic means.

Blair, speaking at a joint news conference after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel said diplomacy must go hand-in-hand with a firm stance toward Iran.

"We had a discussion about how we deal with this [Iranian nuclear] issue and deal with it strongly, but through the diplomatic channels that are available to us."

Britain, Germany and France had led talks with Iran over its nuclear program on behalf of the European Union, but the negotiations collapsed after Iran announced it would resume suspended nuclear activities.

Blair and Merkel also discussed energy supplies for EU countries, and the Hamas militant group's victory in Palestinian elections in January.

Today's visit was Blair's first to Germany since Merkel became chancellor in November 2005.

(compiled from agency reports, CNN)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org