General News
11/3/2009 7:49 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed a rare joint meeting of both houses of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, marking the first time that a German chancellor was given such an honor.
In her address, Merkel thanked the U.S, Congress for the support extended to Germany and for giving her the opportunity to address both houses of the Congress simultaneously, stressing that she will never forget the honor bestowed on her.
"To put it in just one sentence, I know, we Germans know, how much we owe to you, our American friends, and I personally shall never ever forget this," she said.
Urging the Congress to ensure that the present generation meets the challenges of the 21st century, she challenged the lawmakers to tear down the "walls of today" for "creating freedom and security, creating prosperity and justice."
Requesting the members of both houses for backing the European Union's efforts in fighting the threat of climate change, Merkel warned that there was "no time to lose" on tackling the issue. She also urged Washington to sign up internationally binding obligations regarding climate change.
"Icebergs are melting in the Arctic. In Africa, people become refugees because their environment has been destroyed," she said. "We need an agreement on one objective: Global warming must not exceed 2 degrees Celsius."
Merkel stressed that her country will support the United States in the fight against Taliban militants in Afghanistan, but did not offer any commitments about increasing German troop levels in the war-torn country.
She called for a "zero tolerance" policy on Iran's disputed nuclear program, pointing out that "a nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian president who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist, is not acceptable."
Touching on the ongoing global financial crisis, Merkel noted that the "near collapse of the markets has shown what happens when there is no underpinning order." She stressed on the urgent need for global financial regulations, warning that "without global rules and transparency and supervision, we will not gain more freedom, but rather risk the abuse of freedom and thus risk instability."
Merkel on Tuesday became the first German chancellor in 50 years to address the joint meting of both houses of the U.S. Congress. Earlier, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had addressed the House and Senate separately in 1957.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Barack Obama had met with Merkel at the White House. After the meeting, Obama said addressing a joint news conference with the German Chancellor that it was appropriate she was bestowed with the "great honor" of addressing the joint meting of both houses of the U.S. Congress.
1
2
Next Page
|
|