The Local Germany

Former Foreign Minister dies after battle with cancer

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:39:17 +0100

Former German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, one of the country's most prominent openly gay politicians, died Friday, aged 54, after a long battle with leukaemia, his charity foundation said.

FDP pin revival hopes on...new flag

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 14:10:00 +0100

After a drubbing in the polls which has seen them wiped out in the Bundestag, Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP) are pinning their hopes of a revival on a new... er... flag.

Westerwelle: 'Gates still open for Ukraine'

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:01:00 +0100

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has attacked the "simply unacceptable" economic and political pressure put on the Ukraine, in a thinly veiled jab at Kiev's Soviet-era master Russia.

Germany and US vow to repair NSA damage

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 09:52:00 +0100

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and US lawmakers vowed on Monday to try to get past a deep transatlantic rift created by mass US spying in Europe.

Westerwelle says Iran deal 'turning point'

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 09:34:00 +0100

World powers on Sunday reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme, their chief negotiator Catherine Ashton and Iran's foreign minister said.

German foreign minister to join Iran talks

Sat, 23 Nov 2013 11:01:00 +0100

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will join US Secretary of State John Kerry and other world power counterparts on Saturday for nuclear talks with Iran, a spokesman said.

German warning triggers Israel UN meet

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 08:59:00 +0100

Israel will attend a UN human rights review on Tuesday a top official said, after Germany warned of a diplomatic backlash if it stayed away.

Liberal MPs paid despite losing jobs

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:51:00 +0200

They were wiped out in the elections a month ago but as Germany slowly sorts out a government Liberal Party ministers remain in place. Their deputies will also be paid €22,000 over two months despite losing their seats in parliament.

Yoko Ono wins German peace prize

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0200

Yoko Ono, the Japanese artist and widow of John Lennon, on Thursday won a prestigious German prize "for her lasting artistic and peace-promoting political work.

Assad admits mistakes, calls on Germany to help

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 21:05:00 +0200

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has admitted making "mistakes" at the start of the uprising against him in March 2011, in an interview in which he called on Germany to play the role of a mediator in the conflict.

Germany offers help to Syria chemical mission

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 12:11:00 +0200

Germany is ready to give finance and technical support to the international operation to destroy Syria's chemical weapons, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Saturday.

Germany welcomes 'new tone' from Iran

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 10:58:00 +0200

Germany’s outgoing Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Tuesday welcomed a "new tone" from Tehran ahead of a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rowhani but demanded "substantial action" on its controversial nuclear program.

Liberal collapse worrying for Brit Lib Dems too

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:50:00 +0200

Voters abandoned Germany's Liberal party in their droves on Sunday after the party spent four years in coalition with the Conservative CDU. The result should be a stark warning to Britain's Liberal Democrats, argues The Local's Tom Bristow.

Germany and Qatar condemn Egypt violence

Sun, 18 Aug 2013 12:10:00 +0200

Germany's foreign minister and his Qatari counterpart on Saturday condemned the spiralling violence in Egypt, urging political dialogue to avoid further bloodshed.

Germany cuts holidays after Egypt violence

Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:06:00 +0200

Germany will review its relations with violence-torn Egypt, the office of Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, following talks with French President Francois Hollande. German tour companies have meanwhile cancelled all holidays to the troubled country.

Germany urges Egypt to stop deadly crackdown

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:06:00 +0200

The German government summoned the Egyptian ambassador on Thursday morning over the deadly crackdown on protest camps of supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Foreign minister supports Israel talks

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:37:00 +0200

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with Israeli officials on Sunday in a visit to support nascent peace talks. He offered to try and soften a European ban on dealings with Jewish settlements.

Westerwelle: Turkey's success 'breathtaking'

Sat, 11 May 2013 16:32:00 +0200

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle has praised Turkey as a “success story” ahead of strategic talks on Sunday. But he said it was impossible to put a date on the country’s possible accession to the EU.

Germany prepared to enter Mali: Westerwelle

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:57:00 +0200

Germany’s foreign minister Guido Westerwelle has signalled his country’s willingness to take part in a United Nations-led operation in Mali.

Germany's North Korean embassy remains open

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:51:00 +0200

The German Embassy in North Korea will continue working as usual for the time being, following Pyongyang's warnings to several diplomatic missions that their safety could not be guaranteed.