The reception in Washington could not have been more harmonious. Before her historic speech to Congress, President Barack Obama invited Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Oval Office. The photographs taken of this meeting on November 3, 2009 and dispatched all over the world show political friends joking with one another and discussing current political issues. After half an hour, the President described Merkel as a “unique leader” and commented that Germany was not only an “extraordinarily strong ally” in Afghanistan. During her meeting with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel thanked the USA for its support of German reunification: “We will always be grateful to the American people for that.” Being invited to hold a speech before Congress was a “great honor”. The US President described the background to that invitation: “The Chancellor’s speech is an appropriate acknowledgement of German-American relations.”
After their conversation, which lasted half an hour, Merkel hurried away – Congress was waiting. This highpoint of her historic US visit was also to last just over half an hour and moved the 500 senators and representatives to enthusiastic interjections and frenetic applause. Here are excerpts from the German Chancellor’s speech:
Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Distinguished Members of Congress,
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It is true that America and Europe have had their share of disagreements. One may feel the other is sometimes too hesitant and fearful, or from the opposite perspective, too headstrong and pushy. And nevertheless, I am deeply convinced that there is no better partner for Europe than America, and no better partner for American than Europe.
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Because what brings European and Americans together and keeps them together is a common basis of shared values. It is a common idea of the individual and his inviolable dignity. It is a common understanding of freedom in responsibility. That is what we stand for in the unique transatlantic partnership and in the community of shared values that is NATO. This is what fills Partnership in Leadership with life, ladies and gentlemen.
This basis of values was what ended the Cold War, and it is this basis of values that will enable us to stand the tests of our times – and these tests we must stand.
Germany is united, Europe is united. That is what we have achieved. Now, today, our political generation must prove that it is able to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and that in a sense it is able to tear down today’s walls.
What does that mean? First it means building peace and security, second, achieving prosperity and justice, and third, protecting our planet. Here, too, America and Europe are called upon in a very special way.
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This is why the ability to show tolerance is so important. While, for us, our way of life is the best possible way, others do not necessarily feel that way. There are different ways to create peaceful coexistence. Tolerance means showing respect for other people’s history, traditions, religion and cultural identity.
But let there be no misunderstanding: Tolerance does not mean “anything goes.” There must be zero tolerance towards all those who show no respect for the inalienable rights of the individual and who violate human rights. Zero tolerance must also be shown if, for example, weapons of mass destruction fall into the hands of Iran and possibly threaten our security!
Iran must be aware of this. Iran knows our offer, but Iran also knows where we draw the line: A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian President who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist, is not acceptable!
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We all know: We have no time to lose! We need an agreement at the climate conference in Copenhagen in December. We have to agree on one objective – global warming must not exceed two degrees Celsius.To achieve this we need the readiness of all nations to assume internationally binding obligations. We cannot afford failure with regard to achieving the climate protection objectives scientists tell us are crucial.
No doubt about it. In December the world will look to us, to Europe and America. It is true that there can be no agreement without China and India accepting obligations, but I am convinced that if we in Europe and America show that we are ready to accept binding obligations, we will also be able to persuade China and India to join in. And then, in Copenhagen, we will be able to tear down the wall between the present and the future –in the interests of our children and grandchildren and of sustainable development worldwide.
I am convinced that, just as we found the strength in the 20thcentury to tear down a wall made of barbed wire and concrete, today we have the strength to overcome the walls of the 21stcentury, walls in our minds, walls of short-sighted self-interest, walls between the present and the future.
