Angela Merkel

What do you do when other countries\' intelligence agencies give you information and you aren\'t entirely certain about its source? Simply ignore it? That\'s impossible. We have a duty to guarantee the safety of our citizens.

We\'re saying this to both countries: We want a two-state solution. We want a Jewish state of Israel and alongside an independent Palestinian state. Unilateral measures are not helping at all to bring about this cause, and we agree that we wish to cooperate very closely on this, because as we both say, time is of the essence.

I\'m very pleased this military engagement together with a political road map that we developed, we were able to continue. We want to bring about a political solution there. We worked very closely together [with Barack Obama] on the issue of annexation of Crimea and Russia\'s attempt to actually conquer Ukraine and actually, they did so, conquer part of the territory. We tried to come to a peaceful settlement here on this.

There\'s another point that I wanted to mention here, particularly the engagement and commitment to Africa. For us Europeans, Africa as a neighboring continent is of prime importance. The development of African countries is in our very own vested interest.

Through the threat of IS, we recognize how important the cooperation with intelligence services (inaudible) first and foremost also with the services of the United States is.

Just look at Poland, a sort of European perspective this has. So we have an interest in seeing this relationship be a good one. We have a lot of historical ties of course, a history that we share. But this mustn\'t keep us from wherever we feel there are very grave differences of opinion to raise them with them.

I approach this with - with an open mind and I\'ll do it on the basis of a deep conviction with President-elect Donald Trump.

This conclusion of trade agreements that go beyond the scope of mere tariff agreements, customs agreements, are most important and I\'m very pleased we were able to bring this to fruition between Canada and the E.U. We\'ve made great progress, particularly if we look at one of the great global issues, namely climate protection, without the engagement of the current administration under the leadership of Barack Obama, this Paris agreement would never have come about.

Look at the history of the printing press, when this was invented what sort of consequences this had. Or industrialization, what sort of consequences that had. Very often, it led to enormous transformational processes within individual societies. And it took awhile until societies learned how to find the right kind of policies to contain this and manage and steer this.

Our bilateral relations are very good, they're very close. In the areas of business, of the economy, the United States of America last year were our most important trading partner.

Foreign policy that is obviously guided by interests, but that is very much also committed to shared values, so we have a platform, democracy, freedom, respect of human rights that we would like to see respected all over the world and also, a peaceful world order.

When we, for example, see shifts of huge production lines from certain areas to other countries, people tend to ask the question, \'Where\'s my place in this modern world?\' We have this here, this tendency in our country, we have it in other countries.

Thank [Barack Obama] for the friendship you\'ve always demonstrated.

If I may, to underline first of all that I am very much impressed that in spite of the very tough election campaign, this transition period in the United States of America follows democratic principles and is all about the American people. It\'s about the destiny of the American people.

We have shared those values, we continue to share those values and obviously, we will continue to cooperate with the new administration [of the U.S].

From a German point of view, German-American and European-American relations are a pillar of our foreign policy.

We were able to conclude a Paris climate agreement, which will lead the way for the rest of the world, which is groundbreaking. And together with the sustainable development goals of the agenda 2030 for the whole world, this is indeed a sea change, I think, that we see here, and, step-by-step, it will be implemented.

Ever since Germany was able to regain its unity, it is in an even stronger position to give its contribution to upholding this order to which we feel committed and for which particularly people in the German Democratic Republic stood out there on the streets to keep this up, to maintain this order.

On Russia, I can only repeat what the president [Barack Obama] said. This is all about respecting certain principles, and I\'m saying this from a European vantage point, from a European, from a German vantage point, sorry, the fact that for over 70 years we have been able to enjoy peace.

It\'s important that the disparities in the living conditions cannot be allowed in this digital period to be too marked. Each and every one must be given an opportunity to participate, which is why Germany\'s fate in many ways depends on the firmness of its alliance with NATO, with the European Union.

Alliances are part of our destiny as a nation, part of our future as a nation and this is what guides me in my policy, what guides my government as a whole.

I think we live in a period of profound transformation. Very similar to when we had a transition from agricultural societies to industrial societies.

With political means and always trying to work for political settlements and this is what I\'m going to continue to work on with all my heart.

The times when we could fully count on others are over to a certain extent.

Implementing parts of European constitution and leaving out others - without knowing where we\'re going - isn\'t an option. That would be detrimental to the overall balance, which is why we must embark on another comprehensive discussion of the issue once again. I would like to see Europe retain the idea of a constitution in the end, and I plan to campaign on its behalf.

I take advantage of the ability to fly with helicopters belonging to the federal police force, and this privilege is consistent with rules that have been in place for decades. A chancellor must be accessible at all times and be in a position to execute their duties as best they can. I must have the ability to immediately return to Berlin if necessary. There are also security considerations.

I fortunately know very many people, and there are many, many more that I don\'t know and many politicians who stand up for the same values of democracy of liberal societies, of open societies of respect for the dignity of man.

The fact that people have hijacked it is certainly not something that fills me with great joy. We have to find new ways of addressing people, new ways of getting into contact with people.

The [Barack Obama] administration is sharing its knowledge, its expertise with the incoming administration. And this, to us, is a sign of encouragement, to continue the good cooperation that we have built between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany that is in our mutual interest.

It is actually a very good thing, if after eight years of coverage the president of the United States [Barack Obama] says that this is a cooperation based on friendship that we cooperated well.