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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 31 May 2017

Merkel hosts Indian leader Modi, looks to broaden world ties

By FRANK JORDANS the two main issue of con-
Associated Press tention between the Unit-
BERLIN (AP) — The lead- ed States and other mem-
ers of Germany and India bers at the G-7 summit of
heaped mutual praise major economies in Sicily
upon each other Tues- last week, and the topics
day — each referring to look set to flare up again
the other as a “reliable soon.
partner” in a notable con- Trump criticized Germany’s
trast to Chancellor Angela trade surplus with the Unit-
Merkel’s recent public ed States on Tuesday, tying
doubts about Germany’s the issue to Berlin’s military
ties with the United States. spending.
Merkel suggested that Eu- “We have a MASSIVE trade
rope’s relationship with the deficit with Germany, plus
U.S. had shifted significantly they pay FAR LESS than
following last week’s NATO they should on NATO & mil-
and G-7 meetings with itary. Very bad for U.S. This
President Donald Trump will change,” he tweeted.
that produced disappoint- “Donald Trump is making
ing results, saying Saturday clear with his tweet that he
that “the times in which considers Germany a polit-
we can fully count on oth- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, left, talk ical opponent,” said Thom-
ers are somewhat over, as during a contract signing ceremony as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, as Oppermann, the parlia-
I have experienced in the Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) mentary caucus leader of
past few days.” the Social Democrats, the
Asked Tuesday whether ship is of outstanding impor- Speaking after a meeting Climate Agreement. junior partners in Merkel’s
her meetings with senior of- tance and what I said was with India’s Prime Minister “India wants the world not coalition government.
ficials from India and China merely meant to note that Narendra Modi, she went just to be interconnected “This is a new situation —
this week signaled a pivot in view of the current situ- out of her way to laud the but also that it should be we lived for decades in the
away from Germany’s old ation there are more rea- South Asian country as a sensibly run,” Merkel said, certainty that we could
ally in Washington, Merkel sons ... for us in Europe to “reliable partner” on ma- backing European Union rely on each other as part-
sought to dampen specu- take our fate into our own jor projects and noted that talks for a trade agreement ners in an alliance, and this
lation of a major rift. hands,” Merkel told report- India was working hard to with India. certainty no longer exists
“The trans-Atlantic partner- ers in Berlin. implement the 2015 Paris Climate and trade were today.” q

EU-Ukraine pact clears major hurdle with Dutch approval

By MIKE CORDER clinch the much-delayed fication three months ago. The other 27 EU member future lies with Europe.”
Associated Press Association Agreement The approval came after states already have ratified He said he hopes the ratifi-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands between the 28-nation EU Prime Minister Mark Rutte the deal. European Com- cation process can now be
(AP) — The Dutch parlia- and the eastern European obtained written assur- mission President Jean- concluded in time for an
ment on Tuesday complet- nation. ances from EU leaders that Claude Juncker was quick EU-Ukraine summit in July.
ed the ratification of a pact Ending months of often bit- the Association Agreement to welcome the Nether- Rutte had pushed for ratifi-
between the European ter debate, two-thirds of 75 was neither a stepping lands’ belated green light. cation despite voter disap-
Union and Ukraine aimed senators in the upper house stone to EU membership for “Today’s vote in the Dutch proval, saying the Europe-
at keeping Russia at arm’s of parliament stood briefly Ukraine nor provides a col- Senate sends an important an Union needed to display
length, despite voters in the to show their support for lective security guarantee signal from the Nether- a united front and to shore
Netherlands rejecting the ratifying the pact to boost or extra money. The assur- lands and the entire Euro- up its eastern border in the
agreement in an advisory trade, fight corruption and ances were intended to pean Union to our Ukrai- face of what he called Rus-
referendum last year. improve human rights in allay concerns of “No” vot- nian friends,” Juncker said sia’s “increasingly destabi-
Dutch approval was the Ukraine. Lawmakers in the ers in the April 2016 referen- in a statement. “Ukraine’s lizing foreign policy.”q
last major step needed to lower house approved rati- dum, Rutte said. place is in Europe. Ukraine’s