GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER ARRIVED IN WASHINGTON FOR TALKS THIS WEEK WITH U.S. COUNTERPART CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON IRAN'S CONTROVERSIAL NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN ISSUES. STEINMEIER MET WITH WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR STEPHEN HADLEY AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ON MONDAY BEFORE HIS TALKS WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BILL FIRST (REPUBLICAN FROM TENNESSEE) AND RICE ON TUESDAY. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SCOTT MCCLELLAN SAID THAT PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TELEPHONED GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL ON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT IRAN, BELARUS, RICE'S TRIP TO IRAQ LAST WEEK, AND OTHER ISSUES. STEINMEIR'S TWO-DAY TRIP, HIS SECOND TO WASHINGTON SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN NOVEMBER, IS INTENDED TO PREPARE FOR A SECOND U.S. VISIT BY MERKEL. THE TALKS WITH RICE WILL INCLUDE IRAN'S DISPUTED NUCLEAR AMBITIONS, LAST WEEK'S ISRAELI ELECTIONS, AID TO THE PALESTINIANS IN LIGHT OF A HAMAS GOVERNMENT, BELARUS, AND THE BALKANS, A GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAID. THE MEETING IS EXPECTED TO COVER THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN, WHICH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS INSISTED WOULD BE LIMITED TO THE SITUATION IN IRAQ.
