Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 7 February 2017
German conservatives unite behind Merkel for September vote

tian Democratic Union. of whether what we have
Their sometimes-awkward in common is viable, and
alliance has been frayed I am convinced that it’s
since late 2015, with CSU better to take one day lon-
leader and Bavarian gov- ger,” she said.
ernor Horst Seehofer one “I think we have enough
of the most prominent do- time until Sept. 24 to set out
mestic critics of Merkel’s this common ground to the
welcoming approach to population.”
migrants. However, the parties still
A year ago, he threatened disagree on a CSU de-
Merkel’s federal govern- mand for an annual cap of
ment with a lawsuit if it 200,000 on the number of
didn’t take measures to refugees allowed into Ger-
further secure the Ger- many. Seehofer has insisted
man border and reduce his party won’t join the next
the influx of asylum-seek- government without one, a
ers, a threat never carried dispute that both leaders
through. More recently, the skirted.
CSU raised doubts about Germany saw 890,000
whether the parties would asylum-seekers arrive in
campaign together. 2015 and 280,000 last year,
Merkel, Germany’s leader many of those before the
German chancellor and head of the German Christian Democrats, Angela Merkel, left, and Bavar- since 2005, announced her Balkan migrant route was
ian governor and head of the Christian Social Union party, Horst Seehofer, brief the media during candidacy in November. effectively shut by border
a news conference after a party meeting in Munich, Germany, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Merkel was “We are going into this closures from other nations.
meeting her Bavarian conservative allies in a show of unity following a long-running argument election campaign togeth- Much has changed since
over migrant policy, setting the scene for a joint campaign for German elections in September. er,” Seehofer said Monday the migrant influx peaked
(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
after the parties’ lead- in 2015.
GEIR MOULSON ny prepares for a national European Parliament and ers met in Munich. Under While Merkel insists that
Associated Press election in September. a relatively fresh face in na- Merkel, he said, “Germany Germany will continue to
BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor The show of conservative tional politics. is an island of stability.” take in people who genu-
Angela Merkel’s Bavarian unity came as Merkel’s ri- Bavaria’s Christian Social Merkel acknowledged that inely need protection, her
conservative allies threw vals, the center-left Social Union has dominated its the conservatives had tak- government has tough-
their weight Monday be- Democrats, are enjoying a southeastern state for de- en their time to move past ened asylum rules and de-
hind her quest for a fourth strong poll boost from their cades and is traditionally their dispute and focus on clared several countries
term, putting aside a long- surprise nomination as her an important source of na- the Sept. 24 election. “safe,” meaning people
running argument over her challenger of Martin Schulz, tional election votes for the “We needed time to make from there can’t expect to
migrant policies as Germa- the former president of the bloc led by Merkel’s Chris- sure about the question get refuge.q

EU envoys back keeping sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Associated Press Putin respects his promise ratists. “I cannot say where and diplomatic measures, Johnson said.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- to work for a cease-fire in the U.S. administration like the cancellation of top Lithuanian Foreign Minister
pean Union’s top diplomats eastern Ukraine and ensure stands on this, but I can say meetings, and travel bans Linus Antanas Linkevicius
vowed Monday to uphold that heavy weapons are where the Europeans stand and asset freezes on peo- described the develop-
sanctions against Russia for withdrawn from border ar- on this,” Mogherini said. ple linked to the annexa- ments in eastern Ukraine as
destabilizing conflict-torn eas. EU foreign policy chief Fighting has escalated tion of Crimea or accused “highly unpredictable.”
Ukraine, despite confusion Federica Mogherini under- over the past week in of interfering with Ukraine’s “It could erupt at any
over how U.S. President lined that the EU will never eastern Ukraine, killing at territorial integrity. time,” he said. “The sanc-
Donald Trump plans to recognize Russia’s 2014 least 36 people, including Some of those measures tions must be preserved,
manage his relations with annexation of the Crime- civilians, and wounding were renewed in Decem- to say the least. We see no
Moscow. Determined to an Peninsula, and insisted dozens. More than 9,800 ber until July 31. “The U.K. reasons why we should lift
wait no longer for a clear all sides must respect the people have died since will be insisting that there is our review. We see no im-
message from Washing- Minsk peace agreement the war began in 2014. no case for the relaxation provement.” EU member
ton, EU foreign ministers said aimed at ending the fight- The EU imposed a series of of the sanctions, every countries were rattled by
their economic sanctions ing in eastern Ukraine be- rolling economic sanctions case for keeping up the Trump’s generally benevo-
must remain in place until tween government forces against Russia in July 2014. pressure on Russia,” Brit- lent view of Putin during the
Russian President Vladimir and Russia-backed sepa- They include economic ish Foreign Secretary Boris election.q