US President George W. Bush (R), shakes hands with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder before a press conference in Washington, June 27, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

(Xinhua/AFP photo)

    WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhuanet  by Li Xuejun) -- The United States and Germany, close allies in the Cold War era but in deep rift over the Iraq war, will struggle to maintain their alliance despite their differences.

    Such a characteristic of the ties between the two countries is clearly shown in US President George W. Bush's joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder after their meeting in the White House on Monday.

    When asked by reporters if the United States opposes Germany's bid to join the UN Security Council, Bush said: "We oppose no country's bid for the Security Council."

    Although Bush said the Untied States did not oppose Berlin's efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Bush failed to show clear support for Germany's bid.

    Actually, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, at a meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on June 8, rebuffed Germany's UN seat bid and argued that the expansion of the UN Security Council was not its top UN reform priority.

    The United States has so far supported only Japan to join the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

    Bush reiterated the US stance on Monday when he said the United Nations needed broader reform. "We agree that there needs to be UN Security Council reform. The United Nations also needs broader reform than just the Security Council ... and part of that reform is the UN Security Council," he said.

    In addition to the thorny issue of UN reform, differences are also clear between the two countries over how to deal with Iran's nuclear issue.

    Bush said on Monday that the United States would continue to work with Britain, Germany and France to send a unified message to Iran but stressed that Iran's development of nuclear weapons was unacceptable.

    "My message to the chancellor is that we continue working with Great Britain, France and Germany to send a focused, concerted, unified message that says the development of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable and a process which would enable Iran to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable," Bush said.

    Bush also described the just-concluded elections in Iran as neither free nor fair, hinting that the United States would continue to pursue a hard line toward Tehran.

    But Schroeder signaled a willingness to deal with the new government in Tehran when he said Iran's new president "has emphasized that he wants the talks to continue."

    The European Union has reiterated its commitment to the nuclear talks with Iran after the Islamic state's election of a hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    However, just hours before the Bush-Schroeder meeting, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States was skeptical that the EU's nuclear talks with Iran would succeed.

    "We will see on the negotiations. We have reason to be skeptical, we have stated that before," McClellan said.

    In sharp contrast, during the flight from Berlin to Washington, Schroeder said one could not bar Tehran from the peaceful use of nuclear energy, "even though some might not like that."

    As to the issue of Iraq, Schroeder has insisted that Germany will not dispatch troops to the Arab country, although he has promised to help train Iraqi troops in the United Arab Emirates.

    Despite their differences, Germany needs US help to play a greater role in international affairs, while the United States needs Germany in both the European Union and NATO. Therefore, the two countries are expected to maintain some kind of alliance although their bilateral ties might not be always so warm.    Enditem