German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg arrive for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, in a field camp in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, December 18, 2010.
In this photo provided by the German Government Press Office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) as well as Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (2ndR) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) meet for political talks during her visit of an ISAF soldier camp on December 18, 2010 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. Merkel, who is on her third trip to Afghanistan, paid her respects to German soldiers currently deployed and the 45 troops who have lost their lives during the conflict. She is being accompanied by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Bundeswehr chief of staff Volker Wieker.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (centre, R) walk among German soldiers to take part in a commemoration ceremony for their comrade killed on Friday evening, at the German army Bundeswehr field camp Marmal in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, December 18, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is visiting the German troops with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, also attended the ceremony.