Berlin. In her last video podcast before Christmas, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) thanked the German emergency services abroad for their commitment under difficult conditions.
“With their work they are ambassadors for freedom and democracy,” said Merkel on Saturday about police officers, soldiers and civilian helpers who “could not spend the holidays with their loved ones”.
With a view to the pandemic-related restrictions that people in Germany are expecting at Christmas this year, the Chancellor said: “The women and men who, far from home, are committed to our security here in Germany, who know what it means to when contact with loved ones at home is limited. They know what it means if you can only skype for a long time. “
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Merkel: A difficult year is coming to an end that has “demanded a lot” from people
Merkel also sent a special message of thanks to the families of the emergency services. A difficult year is coming to an end that has “demanded a lot” from people. The conflicts in the world, which made the commitment abroad necessary, are not diminishing, said the Chancellor. At the same time, the corona pandemic “led to further, considerable burdens”.
In many countries around the world specialists from Germany are on duty to advise, accompany peace processes or train personnel abroad. For example, the Bundeswehr is involved with several thousand soldiers in missions of the European Union, the United Nations and NATO. Locations are currently among others Mali, Libya, Lebanon, Afghanistan and sea areas in the Mediterranean.
German police officers have also been accompanying international peace and stabilization missions led by the UN, the EU and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) since 1989.
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