John Kerry has just returned from Afghanistan where he discussed with the presidential candidates what steps should be taken next to determine who will be the new President of Afghanistan. I am about to travel to Jordan tomorrow morning and will then continue my trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. We have gathered here in Vienna today to hold negotiations with Iran in order to dispel the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear programme.

These three conflicts demonstrate that, first of all, the times we are living in are certainly not easy, and, secondly, that viable transatlantic relations and German-American cooperation are needed to at least approach a political solution to these conflicts.

I am saying this also with a view to the difficulties that have emerged in the past few weeks in our bilateral cooperation. We are aware of these concerns and we have talked about them. However, German-American relations are necessary and indispensable for both sides, especially in light of the conflicts around us. That is why we want to work towards reviving these relations on the basis of mutual trust and respect.