German chancellor with foreign minister to visit U.S.

The German premier and foreign minister have planned separate trips to the United States , German officials said Friday, and will discuss international developments with their American counterparts as part of a German push to strengthen trans-Atlantic relations. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Monday, and will likely discuss Iran 's nuclear program, the Israel-Palestinian elections and situations in Belarus and the Balkans, Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said.

Photo: German chancellor with foreign minister to visit U.S.

Steinmeier's two-day trip also will include meetings with National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, and with U.S. lawmakers and foreign policy experts. In early May, Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington , the government announced.

Government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said Merkel planned to meet the president during a trip to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American Jewish Committee. He said details of the trip were still being worked out, reports the AP.

N.U.