We stand by the agreement of Minsk and put a lot of importance on its implementation as soon as possible, we still have no stable ceasefire and we must advance on the political process and we discussed in detail the next steps needed.

Angela Merkel

Categorized in : World

I have the impression that the country is in a phase of change and that a lot more is possible now than some years ago, but it’s still a long way away from having achieved what we would understand as equality.

This is completely out of hand and why it's almost impossible to comment on this. It cannot be justified, sS comparisons only lead to misery because it means the crimes committed by the National Socialists in Germany are rendered much more harmless than they actually were.

As difficult as all of this might be, our geopolitical interest cannot be that Turkey -- which is after all a NATO partner -- continues to distance itself from us, that is why it is well worth it to stand for the German-Turkish relationships -- but on the basis of our values, our perceptions and in all transparency.

These deep differences of opinion relate to basic questions of democracy and the rule of law. They relate to freedom of expression in Turkey. They also relate to the many journalists that have been jailed for expressing their opinion.

Let’s not fool ourselves, from the point of view of some of our traditional partners -- I’m thinking about the trans-Atlantic relationship among others -- there is no infinite guarantee I’m convinced that Europe and the EU will have to learn to take on more responsibility in the world.

A situation like the one in the late summer of 2015 cannot, should not and must not be repeated, that was and is our, and my, declared political aim.

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I didn’t say this was going to be simple, that we could just do it. But I am still convinced that we can do it. This is a historic test in a time of globalization.

Nobody wants a long period of limbo. Neither the British people nor the European member states, everyone has an interest that the preparations are conducted in a thorough manner, that the positions are clear, and I think it is absolutely understandable that Britain needs a certain amount of time for this.

Negotiations with British governments are always taxing, interesting and tactically clever and even while competing with our negotiating strategies we try to work on an equal terms - it's always exciting, i mean even during Britain’s years as a member of the European Union the negotiations with Great Britain were never trivial.

But of course the EU and the remaining 27 member states also have to protect their interests, for example, whoever would like to have free access to the European internal market will also have to accept all basic freedoms in return, including the free movement of people.

We need structural reforms, we need solid finances. by Angela Merkel

We need structural reforms, we need solid finances.

We will have difficult negotiations with Britain, it will not be... by Angela Merkel

We will have difficult negotiations with Britain, it will not be easy.

It is not about more or less Europe but about delivering better results, our citizens often don't understand why we are doing something and what our goals are. All of us want to change this. It is not about changing the EU Treaty, about introducing more laws or less. It's about delivering on our goals.

I would like to see what binds us and understand how to use it. That is what the Gotthard Tunnel symbolises, switzerland has not just built a tunnel, but opened a route to the future of Europe.

I think here is an exciting piece of German production for 'Industrie 4.0', we must develop this further, if we want to stay in front.

I concentrate fully on the tasks of the year 2016, which keep me... by Angela Merkel

I concentrate fully on the tasks of the year 2016, which keep me pretty busy.

That's not a disputed topic in the coalition. by Angela Merkel

That's not a disputed topic in the coalition.

We did not set a date, but Turkey's clear understanding is that, within a few days of returns starting, the one-for-one resettlement (of Syrian refugees from Turkey to Europe) should begin.

It ... goes without saying that we stress to Turkey, for example, the importance of freedom of the press (and) the freedom of the Kurds, as important as the necessary fight against ... terror is, (Turkey must take a measured) approach ... for all Kurds.

It ... goes without saying that we stress to Turkey, for example, the importance of freedom of the press (and) the freedom of the Kurds, as important as the necessary fight against the PKK's terror is, (Turkey must take a measured) approach ... for all Kurds.