US President Barack Obama welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington Monday evening with dinner at a fine restaurant in the upscale Georgetown neighborhood. They discussed North Africa, Afghanistan, the Middle East conflict and the euro crisis, German government sources said. The talks were "a successful, intensive and friendly exchange of opinions," according to the source. The dinner at 1789 Restaurant was the first personal meeting of Merkel's US visit, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". She is accompanied by five federal ministers, making it the largest and highest-ranking German delegation since Helmut Kohl was chancellor. On Tuesday morning, the German leader is to be greeted at an official White House welcome ceremony. Obama will also award Merkel the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among the highest US civilian awards, and host a formal dinner.
