German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on their recent peace deal which he said opened an "historic opportunity" for the region.
He made the comment while speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin on Tuesday (9 December).
“This is a significant achievement. The Federal Republic of Germany has closely supported both Armenia and Azerbaijan throughout this process,” Merz said.
"The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a sign of hope for peace and prosperity in this world and the South Caucasus region, and it sends an important, positive signal far beyond the region," the conservative leader said.
“From our perspective, it is now crucial that Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to take the remaining steps together and peacefully, and that the outstanding issues can be resolved amicably,” he added.
Merz said that Germany would support closer cooperation between the European Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan highlighting energy and trade opportunities.
During Pashinyan's visit, the two countries signed a joint declaration on a "strategic agenda" outlining key areas of cooperation.
Merz also said that foreign companies, including those from the U.S., must comply with German and EU laws. He made the remarks in response to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over a fine imposed on social media platform X.
“German and European companies operating in the U.S. must follow the laws in place there and, if necessary, face serious penalties. Similarly, American companies in Europe must accept the rules that apply here. If they fail to do so, there are of course possibilities for sanctions in Germany and Europe,” Merz said.
On Monday (8 December), Trump described the €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission on Elon Musk’s social media platform for violating EU transparency rules as “nasty”.
Merz also said that discussions with the Armenian Prime Minister included Armenia’s desire to join the European Union and Germany’s position on the matter.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye has suspended day-trip crossings at its Kapıköy border and two others with Iran as regional tensions escalate following strikes involving the United States and Israel on Tehran. AnewZ's Alisultan Sultanzade was on the ground at the crossing before the restrictions came into force.
The U.S. military's Central Command said on Tuesday that Iran has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones in its retaliatory attacks throughout the Middle East so far.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
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