GERMANY: Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle offers German support to Earthquake-hit Japan

Record ID: 463663

  • Title: GERMANY: Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle offers German support to Earthquake-hit Japan
  • Date: 12th March 2011
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 11, 2011) (REUTERS) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUIDO WESTERWELLE, SAYING: "The pictures and news reaching us after the heavy earthquake in Japan are dramatic. (pauses) Our sympathy and our thoughts during these difficult times are with our Japanese friends and with relatives." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUIDO WESTERWELLE, SAYING: "We hope and count on the consequences of this earthquake being less grave than the pictures unfortunately suggest. (pauses) In this difficult hour, we are offering concrete help to our Japanese friends if so required and desired. It goes without saying that if necessary, we will help our Japanese partners to overcome this huge natural disaster." REPORTERS WIDE OF REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUIDO WESTERWELLE, SAYING: "Japan and the Japanese people, they are our friends. We are in closest political relations with them. Of course Japan is very well prepared for situations like this one because Japan knows that they are in an earthquake zone. But if necessary, we Germans will help. This goes without saying among friends." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES WESTERWELLE WALKING OFF
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA6TP8ILH8A3PH2EIX1HRX4YK9O
  • Story Text: Following the heavy earthquake in Japan, Germany offers its help and calls the island nation's inhabitants "our friends" with whom "we are in closest political relations."
    Germany will assist Japan "in this difficult hour" after the biggest earthquake on record struck the island nation on Friday (March 11).
    German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters in Berlin that "we are offering concrete help to our Japanese friends if so required and desired."
    "It goes without saying that if necessary, we will help our Japanese partners to overcome this huge natural disaster."
    Westerwelle called Japan and the Japanese people "our friends" and he opened his remarks by expressing Germany's "sympathy."
    "Our thoughts during these difficult times are with our Japanese friends and with relatives," Westerwelle said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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