GERMANY: Berlin denies that Chancellor Angela Merkel had told France's Nicolas Sarkozy she planned to clear Roma camps in Germany

Record ID: 348168

  • Title: GERMANY: Berlin denies that Chancellor Angela Merkel had told France's Nicolas Sarkozy she planned to clear Roma camps in Germany
  • Date: 18th September 2010
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 17, 2010) (REUTERS) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE WALKING TO MICROPHONES TO MAKE STATEMENT CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUIDO WESTERWELLE, SAYING: "The chancellor (Angela Merkel) said publicly and told me personally once more that such talks with such content did not take place. I can onl
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEH46FR9EJS8YH5FKXG0S93FLQ
  • Story Text: Germany has no plans to clear Roma camps in Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Berlin on Friday (September 17), dismissing comments by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
    "The chancellor (Angela Merkel) said publicly and told me personally once more that such talks with such content did not take place," Westerwelle said, adding "I can only think of a misunderstanding."
    The French president said at the European Union summit this week he had chancellor Angela Merkel's support in the Roma row with the European Commission, which has accused Paris of breaking EU law by sending Roma migrants back to Romania and Bulgaria and compared France to Nazi Germany.
    "Any comparisons between France and the atrocities of World War Two are in no way acceptable," Westerwelle said.
    He added that "German-Franco relations are absolutely healthy and absolutely stable," saying "one thing is clear and must remain clear: the German-Franco friendship."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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