29 Mar 2024
Monday 8 June 2015 - 16:05
Story Code : 167098

Obama, Hollande agree on Ukraine, Iran nukes

ELMAU, Germany (AP) -- 12:25 p.m. (1125 GMT; 6:25 a.m EDT)

The White House says President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande are in agreement on some of the world's vexing problems, including Russia's actions in Ukraine and keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The two leaders met Monday on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Seven leading democracies being held in Elmau, Germany.

Obama and Hollande agreed that economic sanctions against Russia should stay in place until Russia fully implements terms of a peace accord with Ukraine that was negotiated last year and has been repeatedly violated. They also agreed to stay united in pursuit of a deal with several other world powers to restrict Iran's nuclear program.

France at times has taken a harder line and expressed more skepticism than Washington on the Iran talks.

The White House says the leaders also discussed climate change, trade, countering Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and instability in Libya.

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12:20 p.m. (1120 GMT; 6:20 a.m EDT)

Activists have had a hard time sending their message to the G-7 leaders, who are tucked away in a secluded Alpine valley guarded by thousands of police.

So Greenpeace decided Monday to project its demands onto a nearby mountain.

The environmental group used green lasers to beam the words "G-7: Go for 100 percent renewables" onto the side of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak.

Greenpeace climate policy chief Martin Kaiser said he hopes German Chancellor Angela Merkel will manage to convince climate holdouts such as Japan's Shinzo Abe to drastically cut down on carbon emissions in the coming decades.

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11:50 a.m. (0950 GMT; 5:50 a.m. EDT)

The G-7 has opened its exclusive circle to meet with the leaders of Iraq and several African nations, along with the heads of various international organizations.

Key topics of discussion include the threat from terrorism and deadly diseases.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Arabi will brief leaders Monday on his country's fight against the Islamic State group, while African countries will talk about their efforts to stop the spread of Ebola.

The so-called "outreach" format also ensures that developing countries' views are heard on global issues such as plans to rein in global warming.

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11.15 a.m. (0915 GMT; 5:15 a.m. EDT)

Mystery solved: the mayor of the village where President Barack Obama was served a pre-lunchtime beer says it was alcohol-free.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed Obama to Kruen, near the G-7 summit venue, a few hours before the meeting began on Sunday. It wasn't yet noon, but the president was served local delicacies including a tall glass of beer.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Sunday he didn't know what kind of beer Obama was served but he was confident the president didn't order a non-alcoholic version.

Kruen Mayor Thomas Schwarzenberger told news agency dpa Monday that German and U.S. officials had asked that the guests be given only alcohol-free beer, so that's what Obama, Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer, were given.

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10:45 a.m. (0845 GMT; 4:45 a.m. EDT)

Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies are searching for a common stance on climate change on the second and final day of their summit in southeastern Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany is seeking agreement on eventually moving away from the use of carbon-based fossil fuels and an endorsement of goals to limit the long-term rise in global temperatures and provide financing to help countries deal with the impact of climate change. Her idea is to forge a united front going into a conference on climate change in Paris later this year.

Leaders at the annual meeting will also hold discussions Monday on combating terrorism. The G-7 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

By The Associated Press
https://theiranproject.com/vdcao0n6a49niw1.tgk4.html
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