Washington, June 22, 2010, SPA -- U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ahead of a Group of Twenty (G20) summit, with conversations centered on economic and financial issues, the White House said. Obama and the German leader “discussed the importance of continuing to take resolute steps to foster a durable recovery and to strengthen financial regulation, looking ahead to the G20 meeting in [Toronto,] Canada,” White House deputy spokesman Bill Burton said. The U.S. president “values his excellent relationship with the chancellor, and he expressed his appreciation for their continued strong cooperation.” With the Spanish leader, Obama “expressed support for the difficult but necessary … economic actions that … Zapatero has taken in recent weeks to strengthen Spain’s economy,” Burton said. Obama also thanked his Spanish counterpart “for excellent cooperation during the Spanish EU (European Union) presidency, particularly progress on counter-terrorism and addressing the threat posed by Iran.” --SPA 11:58 LOCAL TIME 08:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/794940