Obama jokes, swigs beer with Bavarians at start of G7 trip
I can't think of a better place to come to celebrate the enduring friendship between the German and American people
U.S. President Barack Obama toasts with beer as he visits Kruen, southern Germany, June 7, 2015. Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations meet on Sunday in the Bavarian Alps for a summit overshadowed by Greece's debt crisis and ongoing violence in Ukraine. PHOTO: REUTERS
KRUEN, GERMANY:
Joking that he wanted to buy a pair of lederhosen leather shorts, US President Barack Obama drank beer and mixed with Bavarians in a light-hearted start to his trip to Germany, before turning to more serious talks on the conflict in Ukraine.
The US president, who is in Bavaria for a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations, said he had hoped the meeting hosted by Merkel would coincide with Munich's annual Oktoberfest folk festival, which pays homage to beer.
"But then again there's never a bad day for a beer and a weisswurst and I can't think of a better place to come to celebrate the enduring friendship between the German and American people," he added.
He and Merkel then headed off for talks on issues including the Ukraine crisis, climate change and extremism.
Joking that he wanted to buy a pair of lederhosen leather shorts, US President Barack Obama drank beer and mixed with Bavarians in a light-hearted start to his trip to Germany, before turning to more serious talks on the conflict in Ukraine.
The US president, who is in Bavaria for a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations, said he had hoped the meeting hosted by Merkel would coincide with Munich's annual Oktoberfest folk festival, which pays homage to beer.
"But then again there's never a bad day for a beer and a weisswurst and I can't think of a better place to come to celebrate the enduring friendship between the German and American people," he added.
He and Merkel then headed off for talks on issues including the Ukraine crisis, climate change and extremism.