Gauck - Keeping a sense of proportion in the debate about migration

Record ID: 162522

  • Title: Gauck - Keeping a sense of proportion in the debate about migration
  • Date: 25th December 2016
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF BELLEVUE, RESIDENCE OF GERMAN PRESIDENT
  • Embargoed: 9th January 2017 11:04
  • Keywords: Christmas German president Gauck Christmas market attack migration
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015EDQKP3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY 20 FRAMES OF BLACK
    German President Joachim Gauck, in his Christmas message to the nation, called for solidarity in the wake of the Berlin Christmas market attack.
    The president was speaking after a truck was deliberately driven through the crowded market last Monday (December 19), killing 12 people.
    A Tunisian, Anis Amri, suspected of being the driver, was later shot dead by Italian police during a routine search.
    He claimed allegiance to Islamic State in a video.
    The attack raised a debate about Chancellor Angela Merkel's open doors policy towards migrants; at least 250,000 migrants are expected to have come to Germany in 2016.
    "That does not mean at all to renounce political disputes, for instance over migration policy," said Gauck in his address.
    "Those disputes are necessary. But especially in times of terrorist attacks we should not widen the divisions in our society," said Gauck, who holds a largely ceremonial role.
    Gauck announced last June that he would not serve a second five-year term.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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