Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn’t the top priority.
I think it has been a tremendous feat on the part of East Germans since 1990 to adapt to everything changing.
We needed 40 years to overcome East Germany. Sometimes in history, one has to be prepared for the long haul and not ask after four months if it still makes sense to keep up our demands.
It is always the case that when something emerges – which, of course, from the perspective of the former West Germany looks very different – then people say, ‘She hasn’t told us this yet’ and ‘She hasn’t told us that yet.’ I don’t know – maybe there are other things I didn’t talk about because no one ever asked me.
In the German football team players from different clubs need to get on with each other both on and off the pitch. In the grand coalition Christian Democrats and Social Democrats sit in the same boat and need to pull in the same direction.
Germany wants peaceful coexistence of Muslims and members of other religions.
I said, yet again, for Germany, Europe is not only indispensable, it is part and parcel of our identity. We’ve always said German unity, European unity and integration, that’s two parts of one and the same coin. But we want, obviously, to boost our competitiveness.
So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the United States. This has to be done on the basis of strength, of competitiveness.
Germany wants peaceful coexistence of Muslims and members of other religions.
We believe that from both a German and a Polish perspective, it is desirable for Great Britain to remain in the European Union.
It will not be possible to solve the current crisis with euro bonds.
I am for our not having any discrimination in tax legislation.
We are a country based on democracy, tolerance, and openness to the world.
Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.
We’ve stated very clearly that no negotiating chapters between the European Union and Turkey will be concluded before the Ankara Protocol is complied with: that’s to say before Turkey grants all E.U. member states, including Cyprus, access to its ports.
India needs jobs, Germany needs people, and collaboration is crucial to meet the demographic needs of both countries.
More reforms will give more impetus to German industries to invest in India. German companies want to be treated on par with Indian companies, and creation of an equitable market is crucial for investments.
For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together.
For a few years, more people have been leaving our country than entering it. Wherever it is possible, we must lower the entry hurdles for those who bring the country forward.
Industrialised countries must take the responsibility of helping poorer countries in the climate change action plan.
We’ve always had this experience that things take long, but I’m 100% convinced that our principles will in the end prevail. No one knew how the Cold War would end at the time, but it did end. This is within our living experience… I’m surprised at how fainthearted we sometimes are and how quickly we lose courage.
Sometimes I can’t stop myself from buying things just because I see them – even when I don’t really need them.
Former president Wulff said Islam belongs to Germany. That is true. I also hold this opinion.
Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage.
I’ve learned that even the word ‘jubilee’ used in connection with the Reformation can give rise to discussions.
At this time – we’re in a dramatic crisis – euro bonds are precisely the wrong answer. They lead us into a debt union, not a stability union. Each country has to take its own steps to reduce its debt.
The West was a wonderful world to me. I decided then that if this is the way they did things, then I wanted to be part of it.
It is always the case that when something emerges – which, of course, from the perspective of the former West Germany looks very different – then people say, ‘She hasn’t told us this yet’ and ‘She hasn’t told us that yet.’ I don’t know – maybe there are other things I didn’t talk about because no one ever asked me.
I come from a country in which I experienced economic collapse.
The G7 – and earlier, the G8 – were a group of countries that shared the same values with regard to freedom and democracy, and through the annexation of Crimea, Russia made it clear at a certain point that these values of keeping the peace, integrity of the borders of a country were not being respected.
Whoever decides to dedicate their life to politics knows that earning money isn’t the top priority.
We’ve always had this experience that things take long, but I’m 100% convinced that our principles will in the end prevail. No one knew how the Cold War would end at the time, but it did end. This is within our living experience… I’m surprised at how fainthearted we sometimes are and how quickly we lose courage.
Eurobonds are absolutely wrong. In order to bring about common interest rates, you need similar competitiveness levels, similar budget situations. You don’t get them by collectivizing debts.
Especially in a very secular world, we should always stress what is common in the Christian religion.
For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together.
Germany has become a country that many people abroad associate with hope.
The only thing the East German system taught us was that we should never do it that way again.
We are a country based on democracy, tolerance, and openness to the world.
Personally, I think that for example the chemical directive in its present form does too much damage to the chemical industry – especially the medium sized businesses – and will hurt our worldwide competitiveness.
We know that our life of freedom is stronger than terror.
Overcoming the Cold War required courage from the people of Central and Eastern Europe and what was then the German Democratic Republic, but it also required the steadfastness of Western partner over many decades when many had long lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and Europe.
It certainly is dangerous that there are only a few clubs left in Europe that can afford to pay millions. At the end of the day however, the spectators decide the rates of pay – by watching the games and consuming the goods and services advertised on sports TV programmes.
I felt really sorry for Oliver Kahn. Up to that point he had made lots of saves for the German team. Of course he could have caught the ball but it just happened. It was bad luck. In that situation, you need to be very strong psychologically to carry on.
I am for registered civil partnerships.
We have to ensure politically that what’s doable can indeed by translated into law, but what’s not doable mustn’t become European law. Otherwise, the auto industry will work somewhere with higher carbon emissions – and we can’t want that.
For somebody who comes from Europe, I can only say if we give up this principle of territorial integrity of countries, then we will not be able to maintain the peaceful order of Europe that we’ve been able to achieve.
We have shared responsibility for global climate; we have to reduce climate change below 2 degrees Celsius.
I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.
I personally hope and wish that Britain will stay part and parcel of the European Union.
Whenever I was able to work with Hillary Clinton, it was a great pleasure.
Free access to the single market will be granted to a country which accepts the four fundamental freedoms of movement of people, goods, services, and capital.
Overcoming the Cold War required courage from the people of Central and Eastern Europe and what was then the German Democratic Republic, but it also required the steadfastness of Western partner over many decades when many had long lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and Europe.
Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.
For those who share my view that the Jews as a people have a right to self-determination, Zionism as a national movement of the Jewish people is the embodiment of this very right, which its opponents want to deny.
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