BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted her government’s economic achievements in a speech to Parliament Tuesday, positioning herself as the leader who can cope with rapidly changing technology as she seeks election to a fourth term later this month.
Merkel, whose conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDP) is currently leading in polls ahead of the national election on Sept. 24, listed a strong economy, low unemployment, and the introduction of a mandatory minimum wage as some of her administration’s achievements.
But she stressed that Germany is “at a crossroads now” especially in digital development and technological progress.
“We don’t want Germany to end in the museum of technology,” she told lawmakers , referring to the Berlin museum housing historical artifacts. The rest of the world “doesn’t sleep” when it comes to digitalization, she warned.
Pitching herself as the one who can deal with future challenges, she promised that if re-elected as chancellor, she would invest more money into research so that Germany would not fall behind on technological development.
Turning her attention to international affairs, Merkel condemned North Korea’s latest nuclear test as a “flagrant violation” of international conventions, but also said there can only be a “diplomatic and peaceful solution” of the crisis.
Merkel spoke by telephone Monday night with US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, expressing Germany’s support for tougher sanctions on North Korea, according to her office.
Turning to the issue of migration, Merkel said a summit between Europe and several African nations will be held later in the year, aimed at finding solutions to stem the flow of refugees by better addressing the causes that force people to flee.
Her speech came two days after the only televised live debate between Merkel and main challenger Martin Schulz of the center-left Social Democrats.
Merkel has been governing Germany in a coalition with the Social Democrats for the last four years. Both candidates have run lackluster campaigns, and Sunday’s debate was widely criticized because the two were seen as not being aggressive enough.
During the debate, both candidates refused to rule out continuing their current coalition at the national level after the election.
Germany is at a crossroads now, says Merkel
Germany is at a crossroads now, says Merkel
Guinea confirms detention of 16 Sierra Leonean soldiers
- Guinea said late Tuesday the soldiers entered the Koudaya district in the Faranah region without authorization
- Guinea said its forces seized their equipment and supplies
CONAKRY: Guinea’s military confirmed the detention of 16 Sierra Leonean soldiers after accusing them of crossing the border and raising their flag on Guinean soil.
The two West African countries have been involved in a border dispute for more than two decades, stemming from the Sierra Leonean Civil War between 1991 and 2002. Sierra Leone’s government had invited Guinea to help defend its eastern borders during the war, but the Guinean troops didn’t completely withdraw after the war.
The GuineanMinistry of National Defense said in a statement, issued late Tuesday, the soldiers entered the district of Koudaya in Faranah, a border region in Guinea, without authorization, where they“set up a tent and raised their national flag”. Guinean authorities also seized their equipment and supplies.
The Sierra Leonean authorities earlier Tuesday said several members of a security unit, including an officer, had been apprehended while making bricks fora border post in Kalieyereh in the district of Falaba on Monday.
Last year, the Guinean military entered a mineral-rich border town in Sierra Leone, reigniting the tension.
