- Title: Merkel: Didn't discuss sanctions on Russia over Syria with Obama, EU leaders
- Date: 18th November 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 18, 2016) (HOST BROADCASTER POOL) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND SPANISH PRIME MINISTER MARIANO RAJOY ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING (PARTLY OVER SHOT OF RAJOY): "We discussed Syria in detail and above all we said that the humanitarian situation in Aleppo must improve. We did not discuss in concrete terms sanctions against Russia with regard to this. We did discuss sanctions with regard to Ukraine. The American president and we all reiterated that we stand by the Normandy format for close cooperation with the united states of Europe. We want to make sure that we make progress in the Minsk process. Unfortunately, up to now we have not seen much progress. On the contrary, the security situation has not improved in the past weeks. Nevertheless we will continue to work and decide how to proceed at the appropriate time. But with the way it is looking at the moment we are not seeing enough progress with Minsk." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, MARIANO RAJOY, SAYING ACCORDING TO SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION (PARTLY OVER SHOT OF MERKEL): "With regard to Syria, we expressed our deep concern about the humanitarian crisis, above all in Aleppo. Therefore we indicated the necessity of a lasting ceasefire with unrestricted humanitarian access and the resumption of negotiations for a solution under the auspices of the United Nations." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS JOURNALISTS RAJOY AND MERKEL SHAKING HANDS, LEAVING
- Embargoed: 3rd December 2016 13:46
- Keywords: Angela Merkel Mariano Rajoy Syria Ukraine sanctions
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00158Z12YV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday (November 18) that President Barack Obama and European leaders did not discuss imposing sanctions against Russia over its military involvement in Syria when they met in Berlin.
"We did not discuss in concrete terms sanctions against Russia with regard to this," Merkel said at a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy following talks together with U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
Merkel said the leaders had, however, discussed sanctions against Russia over its role in the Ukraine conflict. She said no decision had been made yet on whether to extend those sanctions but added that progress towards implementing the Minsk peace agreement was not sufficient.
Rajoy said the leaders spoke about the need for humanitarian access in Syria as well as the resumption of negotiations for a solution to the conflict. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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