Netanyahus statements from yesterday. There is the seat sort of. Judging of the deal. He is saying that i will do everything that i can to prevent this deal from being approved. Really . Let us wait until we see the deal. Then we can talk about what the options are. That is the thing that we should keep in front of us. What are the options . You may not like this deal and it may have some risk involved. But depending on what the deal is, then, what are the risks . Wheres the least risk you might say . [indiscernible] ideally, you would like to see the congress in a bipartisan debate with other arms control agreements. That would be the best for both countries. By the same token, if we are going to get into a situation and god for bid where our domestic politics overwhelms the fat fax of the cakects of the case, that would be a horrible problem for all countries involved. Ideally, i would to see congress involved. That may not be possible for domestic political regions. If that is the case, that is a sad commentary on the u. S. Crisis is a multilateral agreement. Thank you so much for coming. I wanted to ask you about the effect of netanyahu adjusting congress in the past. If you are in Congress Today would you attend and what would you advise members to do about the predicament . You are really tried to get me in trouble, arent you . [laughter] bottom line this is about domestic politics. I would tell you that i think netanyahus appearance before the congress in joint session is a mistake. I say this as a supporter and friend of israel. I do not want to see the u. S. Israel relationship be politicized. What netanyahu is doing is politicizing this critically important relationship at a historic moment and im afraid that it is not going to be beneficial for israel and it is not going to be beneficial for the United States. It was a bad choice and a bad decision in my judgment. But i somebody who thirsts for information, i may very well attend the speech. But, i may not. I may read about it. If i decide today, i would not attend the speech because i believe that his coming here at this time is showing disrespect to the office of the president. I think about president truman. How would president truman react to this and Something Like this . I was thinking in fact, i was at the Truman Library last friday. I asked the archive is there to plot all the documents that they had between communications between truman and dean hutchison. I had a wonderful time reading all those documents. Last time Something Like this happened historically, ma very well have been when the Republican Congress invited macarthur to speak before the joint session of the congress after he had been fired by the commanderinchief for insubordination. Think about that. As we look back on that historic moment, president truman was acting courageously, doing the right thing, supported by general marshall. The partisanship of the moment overwhelms the day. Here, we had a great speech. But it was the wrong time for the great speech in the wrong place for a great speech. I think we have time for one more question very quick. In the back, all the way. And very quick. Thank you very much. Im a former member of parliament in ironic in iran. I really had a great chance to visit here. Did you have a chance to invite current members of congress to visit iran . Have you invited current members of congress to visit iran . I would love to see current members of congress visit with the members of the parliament. I would like to see iranian officials come to washington. In fact, let me throw out a crazy idea. If were going to have netanyahu come and speak to a joint session of congress, perhaps members of congress would like to have ministers the reef testify before the congress and have opportunity to ask him questions. Why not . I think he has enough problems with his own congress. [laughter] he might be invited to come and testify before congress and answer questions and talk about this stuff. Why are we afraid of information . Why are we afraid to talk to people and learn from them . That sort of puzzles me. We at the Olympic Council are not afraid of it. We are really grateful that you had time to come by today. Really great to visit with yall. [applause] german chancellor Angela Markel and president obama held a News Conference at the white house yesterday. That is next on cspan. Topics on this morning washington journal combating the militant group isis. And we will have a guest on federal historic black colleges and universities. We will hear from dr. Mark sawyer. Live coverage from the health, education, labor, and Pensions Committee start this morning at 10 a. M. Eastern. On cspan3, former senators who were part of a tax deal with president reagan will be at the Senate Finance committee. They will talk about possible changes to the u. S. Tax code. Is also light at 10 a. M. Eastern you that is also live at 10 a. M. Eastern. During a joint press conference, president barack obama and german chancellor Angela Merkel said no decision had been made about whether to arm ukraine. They also answered about u. S. German relations. Good morning, everybody. Please be seated. As always, it is a great pleasure to welcome my close friend and partner chancellor on july merkel back to the white house. Angela merkel back to the white house. She has been here many times, but this is a chance for me to congratulate her on two achievements. She is now one of germanys longestserving chancellors. Perhaps more importantly, this is my first opportunity to public the public that publicly congratulate germany on their fourth world cup title. Our u. S. Team however gets better each world cup. So watch out. Germany is one of our strongest allies so whenever we meet, it is opportunity to court may closely on a whole range of issues critical to our shared security and prosperity. As merkel and our friends prepare to host the g7 the spring, it is also important for us to be able to coordinate on a set of shared goals. At a working lunch this afternoon, we will focus on what to do to keep them up economy growing and keeping jobs. We are strong supporters of transatlantic trade and investment partnership. We agree that there needs to be meaningful progress this year to an agreement that boosts both of our economies and protects our consumers and the environment. I look for to hearing her assessment about europe and the imf working with the greek government to find a way to return greece to Sustainable Growth within these are within the eurozone. And the growth is critical to the United States in the world economy. We are also working to get the world economies to take ambitious action on Climate Change including our initiative to illuminate Public Financing for power plants overseas and our global efforts to save us from the most dangerous greenhouse gases. Our discussion this morning focused on Global Security issues. We reaffirmed our commitment to Training AfghanSecurity Forces supported sovereign and united afghanistan. We agree that the International Community has to continue enforcing existing sanctions as part of our diplomatic effort to keep iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. We have to do everything we can to try to achieve a good, verifiable deal. Two issues of particular that we worked this morning are russias aggression against ukraine and the International Fight against i soul. With regards to russia and the separatists support in ukraine it is clear that they violated just about every commitment that they made in the minsk agreement. If that of withdrawn from eastern ukraine, Russian Forces continue to operate there, training separatists and helping coordinate attacks. We have sent in more tanks and heavy artillery. With russian support, the severus have seized more terry and shelled civilian areas. These are the facts. Russian aggression has only reinforced the unity of the United States germany, and our allies and partners around the world. I like to thank angela for her strong leadership and partnership in this challenge. Merkel and Vice President joe biden met with for checo over the weekend and i will also share the result of her talk and moscow. We continue to encourage a diplomatic resolution to this issue. As diplomatic efforts continue this week, we are in absolute agreement at the 21st century cannot stand idle. We cannot stand idle and simply allow the borders of europe to be redrawn at the barrel of a gun. Today, we agreed to move forward with our strategy. Along with our new allies, we will keep bolstering our presence in central europe. We have an unwavering article five to our collective defense. We will continue to work with the imf and other partners to provide ukraine with critical Financial Support in the pursuit of economic and anticorruption reforms. We discussed the issue on how to assist ukraine if it defends itself. We agreed that sections on russia need to be remaining fully enforced until russia fully complies with its obligations. As we continue to work for a diplomatic solution, we are making it clear again today that of russia continues on its current course which is ruining the russian economy and hurting russian people as well as having such a terrible effect on the crane, russias isolation will only worsen politically and economically. With regards the isis, germany and the United States remain united in our determinations to destroy this barbaric organization. I think angela for her strong support as a member of the International Coalition that is working in iraq. And a significant milestone and its foreign policy, germany has taken a story step to it equipping its forces in iraq. Germany is a close partner in combating foreign terrorist fighters which was focus and a special session of the u. S. Security council that i chaired last fall. Under angelas leadership, germany is moving ahead with legislation to prevent fighters from traveling to and from syria and iraq. At the same time, both angela and i recognize that young people of both of our countries especially in muslim communities , are being threaded and targeted by terrorists in al qaeda and isis. We are protecting our people from these ideology so that there not vulnerable to these recruitments. Faith leaders who know these committees best. We can help these communities starting with the tone in the example that we set our own countries. I commend angela for her leadership. Her leadership speaking out forcefully against the the phobia and prejudice. She has made it clear that all religious communities have a place in germany just as they do here the United States. We are grateful that our german president will be joining us at a summit next week and countering violent extremism because this is a challenge that countries have to meet together. Let me and on a historic note. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war. In march the 25th anniversary of the reunification of germany. At a time when college flicks conflicts seem intractable germanys story gives us hope. We can and wars. Countries can rebuild. Adversaries can become allies. Walls can come down. Divisions can be healed. Germany story and the story of angelas life show that three people stand united and are interests and values will ultimately prevail. As we look into the future and i prepare for june, i am grateful for my partnership with angela as americans are grateful for their partnership with the people of germany. Chancellor merkel. Quotes thank you, president. I delighted to be back in washington, months ago we were here for the last time. First of foremost, we have to do with the fact of the presidency this year at that we coordinate on these legislative associates. We will address issues related to the Global Economy when we meet in the marriott. From a european vantage point, i think that we can say that we have made significant progress in a number of areas. We are now iconic back on the growth path. Strong phase of structural form have now made significant progress in new commissions and we have launched a Growth Program in which germany will participate. We will pen our hopes basically on growth and infrastructure but also another growth project. I think if the states in the additional economy in the United States. There is a lot of things to be done by the europeans. I would say that a Free Trade Agreement would go a long way towards increasing growth. We know that you are very engaged with the asiapacific area. Germany will come out very forcefully and seeing that the negotiations between the eu and the United States on Free Trade Agreements are pursued in a vigorous manner. It is in our own best interests and it is also in the United States enters. We are dealing with the g7 and initiative with health issues. What lessons have we drawn from the terrible ebola academic . Epidemic . We have to be quicker and reacting to the next epidemic. We are also interested, for example, in seeing david be successful. This has just been completed it in germany so successfully. We have dealt with Security Issues this morning. This year celebrates the 25th anniversary of the reunification of germany. This would not have been achievable without transatlantic partners and the support of the United States of america. We will always be grateful for this. And one case import, it is important to stand by once values and to pursue longterm goals and not relent in those efforts. I think society will turn out a more easily and less cop located. Now, we are confronted with a whole wealth of conflict. We worked together in afghanistan. Germany has decided in the fight against isis to give help, to give training missions, and to also give weapons if necessary. We will Work Together on the iran nuclear program. One particular priority is the conflict between the ukraine and russia this morning. We stand up for the same principles of territory integrity. As someone from europe, i can only say that these principles of of territorial integrity, we would not be able to maintain a peaceful order of europe that we have achieved. This is an essential and Crucial Point and we have to stand by it as russia has violated the territorial integrity of ukraine in two respects. In crimea and also in donis and luhansk. We have called upon them to come up with solutions. Not just as a mediator, but we also stand up for the interest of the european also. This led the french president and i have been trying to do over the past two days and we will continue those efforts and im very grateful that the ukraine crisis, we have been in very close contact with United States of america. We are dealing with the sanctions and the. This is going to be continued. I think that is indeed one of the most important messages that we consent to russia. We need to send to russia. We continue to pursue a diplomatic solution. We have some other setbacks. These days, we will see whether all sides are ready to come to negotiate a settlement. Ive always said that i do not see an immediate solution to this conflict, but we have to put all of our agreement to a diplomatic solution. There is a whole host of issues that we need to discuss over lunch. We will continue to talk about Climate Change and the Sustainable Development goals. Yet again, thank you very much. Thank you for the close correlation and the possibility to have exchange of views on these crucial issues. I think, not only in hindsight we can safely say the United States has always provided and helped us regain our unity and peace and freedom. We also think that we continue to cooperate closely if it is about solving the conflict of the world today. Unfortunately, there many of them and we will continue to do so in the future. Thank you for your hospitality. First question. Thank you. He stressed that u. S. And europe need to have cohesion on the issue of sanctions in dealing with ukraine. Yet, the administration is discussing sending legal weapons to ukraine which is very different than what the chancellor said over the weekend. I was wondering whether this is a good copbad cop or this is a real reflection and differences of views in the situation on the ground. And more broadly, if there is no agreement this week, what lies ahead . Ill be looking at a broader set of sanctions are we looking at a broader set of sanctions . Let me start with the broader points. I think both angela and i have said that a prospect for the military solution for this problem has always been a problem. Russia has always had an extraordinarily powerful military. Give it the light of the russian border with the ukraine and the history between russia and ukraine, expecting that if russia is determined that ukraine can fully rebuff a russian army, it is always been unlikely. What we have said is that the International Community working together can ratchet up the cost for the violation of the core principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity. That is exactly what we have done. Russia has paid a significant cost for actions first in crimea and now in eastern ukraine. It has not yet dissuaded mr. Putin from following the course he is on. But, it has created a measurable negative impact on the russian economy. That will continue. My hope is that through these diplomatic efforts. Those costs will become high enough that mr. Putins prefer