English subtitles for clip: File:20161117 POTUS Press Conference with Chancellor Merkel-3 HD.webm

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Chancellor Merkel: (As
interpreted.) Ladies and

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gentlemen, I'm delighted
to be able to welcome

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today for the sixth time
the President of the

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United States of America,
Barack Obama, to Germany.

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In his capacity as
President of the United

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States, let us remind
ourselves -- visiting us

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in his capacity as
candidate here in Berlin;

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we then met in
Baden-Baden.

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We then met in Dresden
and Buchenwald.

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We saw each other when
he gave a speech at the

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Brandenburg Gate.

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In Elmau, we met
again at the G7.

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Then Hannover Faire
comes to mind.

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And today he is
again here in Berlin.

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So eight years are
coming to a close.

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This is the last visit
of Barack Obama to our

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country, to Germany.

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I am very glad that he
chose Germany as one of

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the stopovers
on this trip.

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And thank you very much.

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Thank you for the
friendship

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you've always demonstrated.

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Thank you for the reliable
friendship and partnership

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you demonstrated in very
difficult hours

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of our relationship.

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So let me again pay
tribute to what we've been

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able to achieve, to what
we discussed, to what we

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were able to bring about
in difficult hours.

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It comes to mind, as I
said, of those that had a

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bearing on the cooperation
of our intelligence

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services, and I'm very
grateful that Barack

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Obama, as President, very
much put protection of

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privacy on the
agenda today.

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Due to the fact of
Islamist terrorism all

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over the world and the
threat of IS, we recognize

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how important the
cooperation with

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intelligence services,
first and foremost, also

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with the services of
the United States is.

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We need this cooperation.

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And we say this from a
German perspective very

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clearly and unequivocally.

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Our bilateral relations
are very good,

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they're very close.

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In the areas of business,
of the economy, the United

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States of America last
year were our most

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important trading partner.

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Both for Germany and
the European Union, the

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European Union and the
United States of America

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on the big, important
economic areas for us,

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which is why I've always
come out strongly in favor

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of concluding a trade
agreement with the

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United States of America.

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We have made progress,
quite a lot of progress.

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They cannot be stopped,
those negotiations.

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But we'll keep what we
have achieved so far, and

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I'm absolutely certain
that one day we will come

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back to what we have
achieved and build on it.

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Because that is my
deep conviction.

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Globalization -- and
I think we share this

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conviction -- is that
globalization needs to

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be shaped politically.

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It needs to be
given a human face.

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But we cannot allow
to fall back into

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pre-globalization times.

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So this conclusion of
trade agreements that go

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beyond the scope of mere
tariff agreements, customs

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agreements, are most
important, and I'm very

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pleased that we were able
to bring this to fruition

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between Canada and the EU.

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We made great progress,
particularly if we look at

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one of the great global
issues -- namely,

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climate protection.

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Without the engagement of
the current administration

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under the leadership of
Barack Obama, this Paris

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agreement would never
have come about.

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There has been a change in
the attitude in the United

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States towards that
agreement, but there is

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also better
cooperation with China.

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So last year, we were
able to conclude a Paris

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climate agreement, which
will lead the way for the

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rest of the world, which
is ground-breaking.

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And together with the
sustainable development

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goals of the agenda 2030
for the whole world, this

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is indeed a sea change, I
think, that we see here,

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and, step-by-step, it
will be implemented.

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There's another point that
I wanted to mention here,

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particularly, the
engagement and

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commitment to Africa.

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For us Europeans, Africa
as a neighboring continent

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is of prime importance.

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The development of African
countries is in our very

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own vested interest.

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We, as Germans, but also
we, as members of the

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European Union, will
have to deal with this.

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It will be at the very
top of our agenda.

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There are a lot of areas
where we cooperate -- the

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fight against
ISIL, for example.

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Here, Germany was able to
contribute to a certain

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extent, in certain areas.

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We'll continue to do
so -- for example, in

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supporting the Peshmerga,
in air policing.

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But we also have to
acknowledge that the

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United States of America
bear most of the burden.

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They bear the brunt of
this responsibility.

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So I take your remarks
very seriously, Barack,

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that the European Union as
a whole, but also Germany,

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needs to recognize that
this is our alliance, our

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common alliance, our
transatlantic alliance,

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that we have to step
up our engagement.

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Because, in the long run,
we will not be allowed to

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accept this imbalance as
regards the contributions

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we give to this alliance.

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And we have understood
this message, and we have

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started to react.

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We have worked very
closely together, for

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example, in Afghanistan.

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We're continuing to do so.

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I'm very pleased that
this military engagement,

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together with a political
road map that we've

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developed, we were
able to continue.

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We want to bring about a
political solution there.

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We work very closely
together on the issue of

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annexation of Crimea
and Russia's attempt to

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actually conquer Ukraine.

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And actually they did so
-- conquered part

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of the territory.

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We tried to come to a
peaceful settlement

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here on this.

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So our interests are
very much aligned.

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Our attempts of
cooperation are

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very much aligned.

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We continue to build
on what we've already

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achieved in these
last months of the

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administration, and we
will continue also with

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the new administration.

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This is the end of an
eight-year cooperation

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that was very
close, indeed.

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From a German point of
view, German-American and

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European-American
relations are a pillar of

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our foreign policy -- a
foreign policy that is

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obviously guided by
interests, but that is

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very much also committed
to shared values.

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So we have a platform
-- democracy, freedom,

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respect of human rights --
that we would like to see

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respected all over the
world, and also a

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peaceful world order.

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We have shared those
values; we continue to

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share those values.

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And obviously we will
continue to cooperate with

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the new administration.

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But today, I think a word
of gratitude is at hand.

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Thank you very much for
this very close, very

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intensive cooperation.

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The President: Well,
thank you so much.

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It is wonderful to
be back in Berlin.

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This is my sixth
visit to Germany.

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It will not be my last.

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I have somehow continued
to miss Oktoberfest.

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So that's
probably something that is

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better for me to do as a
former President rather

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than as President --
I'll have more fun.

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It's also wonderful to be
back with my great friend

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and ally,
Chancellor Merkel.

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As I reflect back over the
past eight years, I could

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not ask for a steadier or
a more reliable partner on

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the world stage, often
through some very

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challenging times.

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So I want to thank you for
your friendship, for your

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leadership, and your
commitment

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to our alliance.

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And I want to thank the
German people for the

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incredible partnership
that our countries have

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been able to establish
all these years.

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Last week marked the 27th
anniversary of the fall of

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the Berlin Wall.

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The United States was
proud to stand with the

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people of Germany as this
nation and this continent

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reunited, and rebuilt,
and reached

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for a better future.

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And it's a reminder that
the commitment of the

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United States to Europe is
enduring and is rooted in

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the values we share --
values that Angela just

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mentioned: Our commitment
to democracy; our

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commitment to rule of
law; our commitment to the

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dignity of all people --
in our own countries and

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around the world.

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Our alliance with our
NATO partners has been a

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cornerstone of U.S.

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foreign policy for nearly
70 years -- in good times

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and in bad, and through
Presidents of both parties

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-- because the United
States has a fundamental

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interest in Europe's
stability and security.

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The commitment that
Angela and I share to this

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guiding principle has
formed the basis for our

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conversations
this afternoon.

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We discussed our efforts
to keep our countries

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competitive and to create
jobs and opportunity on

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both sides of
the Atlantic.

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The negotiations on
agreements like T-TIP have

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been challenging, and
obviously at a moment when

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there's concerns about
globalization and the

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benefits that accrue to
particular people, it is

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important that those
negotiations and channels

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of communication remain.

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Because, ultimately, what
we have shown over the

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last several decades is
that markets and trade and

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commerce can create
prosperity in all of our

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countries -- that it's not
a win-lose situation, but

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it can be a
win-win situation.

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And at a time when the
European project is facing

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challenges, it's
especially important to

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show the benefits of
economic integration by

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continuing to invest in
our people and working to

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reduce inequality, both
within and

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across our countries.

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I reiterated our hope
that negotiations over the

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United Kingdom's exit from
the EU will be conducted

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in a smooth and orderly
and transparent fashion,

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and preserve as closely as
possible the economic and

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political and security
relationships

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between the UK and EU.

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And I continue to believe
what I said in Hannover --

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that the EU remains one
of the world's great

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political and economic
achievements and that

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those achievements should
not be taken for granted,

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that they need to be
nurtured and cultivated

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and protected
and fought for.

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Because the achievements
that we've seen on this

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continent, in contrast to
a divided Europe of the

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previous century, are
ones that remind us of how

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important it is that we
work together, and that we

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are willing to uphold
principles that have

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resulted in unprecedented
prosperity and security

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throughout Europe
and around the world.

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With the threat of climate
change only becoming more

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urgent, Angela and I
focused on the need for

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American and EU leadership

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to advance global cooperation.

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Both our nations were
proud to join the Paris

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climate agreement, which
the world should work to

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implement quickly.

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Continued global
leadership on climate, in

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addition to increasing
private investment in

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clean energy is going to
be critical to meeting

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this growing threat.

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Of course, we discussed
our commitment to meeting

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shared security challenges
-- from countering cyber

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threats to ensuring that
Iran continues to live up

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to the terms of the
Iran nuclear deal.

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I commended Angela for
her leadership, along with

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President Hollande, in
working to resolve the

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conflict in Ukraine.

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We continued to stand with
the people of Ukraine and

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for the basic principle
that nations have a right

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to determine
their own destiny.

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And we discussed the
importance of maintaining

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sanctions until Russia
fully complies with the

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Minsk agreement.

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As part of the coalition
against ISIL, we are

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putting that terrorist
network

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00:11:59,285 --> 00:12:01,120
under tremendous pressure.

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Here in Berlin, this week,
coalition members are

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00:12:03,722 --> 00:12:05,991
meeting to ensure we
remain unified and focused

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on our mission
to destroy ISIL.

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We are very grateful for
the vital contributions

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Germany has made to this
fight -- training local

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00:12:13,432 --> 00:12:15,968
forces in Iraq, sharing
intelligence, providing

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reconnaissance aircraft,
including the recent

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00:12:18,838 --> 00:12:22,007
deployment of
additional NATO AWACS.

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And as Iraqi forces
continue the liberation of

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Mosul, I am pleased that
NATO will be meeting the

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00:12:28,314 --> 00:12:30,449
commitment we made in
Warsaw to begin training

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additional forces in
Iraq, which

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started this January.

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We also continue to stand
united with Germany and

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00:12:36,455 --> 00:12:40,693
our NATO allies in our
ongoing efforts to build

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peace and stability
in Afghanistan.

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On Syria, it's clear that
the indiscriminate attacks

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on civilians by the Assad
regime and Russia will

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00:12:50,503 --> 00:12:52,571
only worsen the
humanitarian catastrophe,

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and that a negotiated end
to the conflict is the

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00:12:55,207 --> 00:12:59,678
only way to achieve
lasting peace in Syria.

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00:12:59,678 --> 00:13:03,015
Angela and I also
agreed on the need for a

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00:13:03,015 --> 00:13:05,284
comprehensive and
humane response to the

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00:13:05,284 --> 00:13:07,786
devastating humanitarian
crisis in Syria and for

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00:13:07,786 --> 00:13:10,256
the influx of migrants and
refugees from

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00:13:10,256 --> 00:13:13,391
around the world.

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We need to build on the

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00:13:14,326 --> 00:13:15,928
progress achieved at the U.N.

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00:13:15,928 --> 00:13:18,097
Refugee Summit, which
yielded new commitments

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00:13:18,097 --> 00:13:22,001
from some 50 nations
and organizations.

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00:13:22,001 --> 00:13:24,069
The United States is doing
our part by increasing the

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00:13:24,069 --> 00:13:26,171
number of refugees
we resettle.

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And I want again to
commend Angela and, more

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00:13:30,042 --> 00:13:31,911
importantly, the
German people for the

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00:13:31,911 --> 00:13:35,113
extraordinary leadership
and compassion that you

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00:13:35,114 --> 00:13:36,815
have shown in the face
of what I know is a very

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00:13:36,815 --> 00:13:39,185
difficult challenge.

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You are not alone in
trying to

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00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:42,688
deal with this challenge.

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00:13:42,688 --> 00:13:45,991
This is not an issue that
any one country should

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00:13:45,991 --> 00:13:52,564
bear but is in need of an
international response.

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00:13:52,565 --> 00:13:56,602
And I not only intend to
make sure that we have put

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00:13:56,602 --> 00:14:00,573
in place more robust
support from the United

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00:14:00,573 --> 00:14:03,876
States, but I'm hoping
that that continues

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00:14:03,876 --> 00:14:05,978
beyond my administration.

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00:14:05,978 --> 00:14:09,814
On this final visit, I am
reminded of the visit I

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00:14:09,815 --> 00:14:12,318
made here before I
became President.

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00:14:12,318 --> 00:14:14,086
It was eight years ago.

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00:14:14,086 --> 00:14:17,690
I had no gray hair.

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00:14:17,690 --> 00:14:21,894
But I believe
today what I said then: If

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00:14:21,894 --> 00:14:24,363
you want a model for what
is possible, if you want

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00:14:24,363 --> 00:14:27,166
to see how to build a
peaceful and prosperous

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00:14:27,166 --> 00:14:30,202
and dynamic society, then
look at Berlin

315
00:14:30,202 --> 00:14:31,971
and look at Germany.

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00:14:31,971 --> 00:14:34,907
Look at Chancellor Merkel.

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00:14:34,907 --> 00:14:38,310
Her personal story helps
to tell the story of

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00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:42,580
incredible achievement
that the German people

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00:14:42,581 --> 00:14:49,989
have embarked on and I
think is something that

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00:14:49,989 --> 00:14:53,225
you should be
very proud of.

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00:14:53,225 --> 00:14:56,061
It is not inevitable
that we make progress; it

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00:14:56,061 --> 00:14:59,064
requires hard work.

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00:14:59,064 --> 00:15:06,271
Sometimes it may seem as
if progress is stalled.

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00:15:06,272 --> 00:15:11,710
But what the history of
postwar Germany shows is

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00:15:11,710 --> 00:15:18,183
that strength and
determination and focus

326
00:15:18,183 --> 00:15:20,886
and adherence to the
values that we care about

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00:15:20,886 --> 00:15:23,589
will result in a better
future for our children

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00:15:23,589 --> 00:15:25,491
and our grandchildren.

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00:15:25,491 --> 00:15:28,526
And on behalf of the
American people, I want to

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00:15:28,527 --> 00:15:32,064
thank the German people,
I want to thank Chancellor

331
00:15:32,064 --> 00:15:36,068
Merkel, for your deep
friendship and your

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00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:38,569
steadfast partnership.

333
00:15:38,570 --> 00:15:45,711
Vielen dank.

334
00:15:45,711 --> 00:15:50,716
Mr. Earnest: Jeff
Mason from Reuters.

335
00:15:50,716 --> 00:15:52,351
Jeff Mason: Thank
you very much.

336
00:15:52,351 --> 00:15:55,020
Mr. President, you and the
President-elect have very

337
00:15:55,020 --> 00:15:57,055
different views on Russia.

338
00:15:57,056 --> 00:15:59,325
After your meeting with
him last week, can you

339
00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:01,727
assure Chancellor
Merkel that a Trump

340
00:16:01,727 --> 00:16:04,228
administration would also
support strong sanctions

341
00:16:04,229 --> 00:16:05,898
against Moscow?

342
00:16:05,898 --> 00:16:09,168
Similarly, what have you
told President Putin about

343
00:16:09,168 --> 00:16:10,102
Russia's influence

344
00:16:10,102 --> 00:16:11,337
on the U.S. election?

345
00:16:11,337 --> 00:16:13,706
And how would you advise
European countries to deal

346
00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:15,574
with the same threat?

347
00:16:15,574 --> 00:16:18,242
And lastly, if I may,
would you like to see your

348
00:16:18,243 --> 00:16:19,378
friend, Chancellor Merkel,

349
00:16:19,378 --> 00:16:21,480
run for reelection next year?

350
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,284
(Speaks German.)

351
00:16:25,284 --> 00:16:26,385
The President: Uh-oh.

352
00:16:26,385 --> 00:16:27,720
Pull out your
German, showing off.

353
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,255
(Laughter)

354
00:16:30,255 --> 00:16:32,290
Jeff Mason: (As interpreted.) Has the

355
00:16:32,291 --> 00:16:36,962
American President calmed
you in the sense that on

356
00:16:36,962 --> 00:16:39,131
the policy of his
successor on climate

357
00:16:39,131 --> 00:16:42,968
change and Russia -- he
has allayed your fears?

358
00:16:42,968 --> 00:16:46,738
And are you concerned that
the common European policy

359
00:16:46,739 --> 00:16:48,173
towards Russia
will collapse?

360
00:16:48,173 --> 00:16:52,778
And after the election of
Mr. Trump, would you -- as

361
00:16:52,778 --> 00:16:56,115
a sign of civility,
wouldn't you actually have

362
00:16:56,115 --> 00:16:58,283
to declare that you are
going to be

363
00:16:58,283 --> 00:17:01,820
a candidate again?

364
00:17:01,820 --> 00:17:05,790
The President: Well, I try
to make it a rule not to

365
00:17:05,790 --> 00:17:10,428
meddle in other
people's politics.

366
00:17:10,429 --> 00:17:14,466
All I can say is that
Chancellor Merkel has been

367
00:17:14,465 --> 00:17:17,335
an outstanding partner.

368
00:17:17,336 --> 00:17:29,048
And Chancellor Merkel is
perhaps the only leader

369
00:17:29,048 --> 00:17:35,421
left among our closest
allies that was there when

370
00:17:35,421 --> 00:17:40,626
I arrived, so, in some
ways, we are now the

371
00:17:40,626 --> 00:17:44,562
veterans of many
challenges over

372
00:17:44,563 --> 00:17:48,066
the last eight years.

373
00:17:48,066 --> 00:17:50,569
And although we have not
always been in sync on

374
00:17:50,569 --> 00:17:54,473
every issue, in terms of
our core values, in terms

375
00:17:54,473 --> 00:18:00,245
of her integrity,
her truthfulness, her

376
00:18:00,245 --> 00:18:03,581
thoughtfulness, her doing
her homework, knowing her

377
00:18:03,582 --> 00:18:08,754
facts, her commitment
to looking out for the

378
00:18:08,754 --> 00:18:11,523
interests of the German
people first, but

379
00:18:11,523 --> 00:18:16,462
recognizing that part of
good leadership on behalf

380
00:18:16,462 --> 00:18:19,097
of the nation requires
engaging the world as a

381
00:18:19,097 --> 00:18:23,702
whole and participating
effectively in

382
00:18:23,702 --> 00:18:28,140
multilateral institutions,
I think

383
00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:29,942
she's been outstanding.

384
00:18:29,942 --> 00:18:34,913
So it's up to her whether
she wants to stand again,

385
00:18:34,913 --> 00:18:36,248
and then ultimately it
will be up to the German

386
00:18:36,248 --> 00:18:43,055
people to decide what
the future holds.

387
00:18:43,055 --> 00:18:48,026
If I were here and I were
German, and I had a vote,

388
00:18:48,026 --> 00:18:52,030
I might support her.

389
00:18:52,030 --> 00:18:53,932
But I don't
know whether that

390
00:18:53,932 --> 00:18:56,502
hurts or helps.

391
00:18:56,502 --> 00:19:04,842
(Laughter.) With respect
to Russia, my principal

392
00:19:04,843 --> 00:19:10,649
approach to Russia has
been constant since I

393
00:19:10,649 --> 00:19:13,784
first came into office.

394
00:19:13,785 --> 00:19:16,688
Russia is an
important country.

395
00:19:16,688 --> 00:19:24,930
It is a military
superpower.

396
00:19:24,930 --> 00:19:31,303
It has influence in
the region and it has

397
00:19:31,303 --> 00:19:34,606
influence around
the world.

398
00:19:34,606 --> 00:19:38,343
And in order for us to
solve many big problems

399
00:19:38,343 --> 00:19:41,680
around the world, it is in
our interest to work with

400
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:47,052
Russia and obtain
their cooperation.

401
00:19:47,052 --> 00:19:50,856
I think we should all
hope for a Russia that is

402
00:19:50,856 --> 00:19:55,027
successful, where its
people are employed and

403
00:19:55,027 --> 00:20:04,069
the economy is growing,
and they are having good

404
00:20:04,069 --> 00:20:07,839
relationships with
their neighbors, and

405
00:20:07,839 --> 00:20:09,441
participating
constructively on big

406
00:20:09,441 --> 00:20:11,710
issues like
climate change.

407
00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:15,180
So I've sought a
constructive relationship

408
00:20:15,180 --> 00:20:17,449
with Russia, but what
I have also been is

409
00:20:17,449 --> 00:20:21,119
realistic in recognizing
that there are some

410
00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:27,759
significant differences in
how Russia views the world

411
00:20:27,759 --> 00:20:32,130
and how we view the world.

412
00:20:32,130 --> 00:20:34,132
The values that we talked
about -- the values of

413
00:20:34,132 --> 00:20:39,838
democracy, and free
speech, and international

414
00:20:39,838 --> 00:20:46,043
norms, and rule of law,
respecting the ability of

415
00:20:46,044 --> 00:20:49,715
other countries to
determine their own

416
00:20:49,715 --> 00:20:52,351
destiny and preserve
their sovereignty and

417
00:20:52,351 --> 00:20:57,022
territorial integrity
-- those things are not

418
00:20:57,022 --> 00:21:01,059
something that
we can set aside.

419
00:21:01,059 --> 00:21:07,199
And so on issues like
Ukraine, on issues like

420
00:21:07,199 --> 00:21:12,070
Syria, we've had very
significant differences.

421
00:21:12,070 --> 00:21:20,212
And my hope is that the
President-elect coming in

422
00:21:20,212 --> 00:21:25,517
takes a similarly
constructive approach,

423
00:21:25,517 --> 00:21:28,854
finding areas where we
can cooperate with Russia

424
00:21:28,854 --> 00:21:34,593
where our values and
interests align, but that

425
00:21:34,593 --> 00:21:36,828
the President-elect also
is willing to stand up to

426
00:21:36,828 --> 00:21:41,066
Russia where they are
deviating from our values

427
00:21:41,066 --> 00:21:44,670
and international norms.

428
00:21:44,670 --> 00:21:50,042
And I don't expect that
the President-elect will

429
00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:56,782
follow exactly our
blueprint or our approach,

430
00:21:56,782 --> 00:22:03,321
but my hope is, is that
he does not simply take a

431
00:22:03,321 --> 00:22:07,525
realpolitik approach and
suggest that if we just

432
00:22:07,526 --> 00:22:11,663
cut some deals with
Russia, even if it hurts

433
00:22:11,663 --> 00:22:13,865
people, or even if it
violates international

434
00:22:13,865 --> 00:22:16,668
norms, or even if it
leaves smaller countries

435
00:22:16,668 --> 00:22:20,639
vulnerable or creates
long-term problems in

436
00:22:20,639 --> 00:22:25,811
regions like Syria -- that
we just do whatever is

437
00:22:25,811 --> 00:22:28,714
convenient at the time.

438
00:22:28,714 --> 00:22:32,884
And that will be something
that I think we'll learn

439
00:22:32,884 --> 00:22:35,721
more about as the
President-elect puts his

440
00:22:35,721 --> 00:22:37,856
team together.

441
00:22:37,856 --> 00:22:41,326
I am encouraged by
the President-elect's

442
00:22:41,326 --> 00:22:45,464
insistence that NATO is a
commitment

443
00:22:45,464 --> 00:22:48,366
that does not change.

444
00:22:48,366 --> 00:22:54,172
And his full commitment to
NATO as the foundation for

445
00:22:54,172 --> 00:22:58,577
our international security
I think is very important.

446
00:22:58,577 --> 00:23:00,712
And finally, in terms
of my conversations with

447
00:23:00,712 --> 00:23:05,283
President Putin, these are
conversations that took

448
00:23:05,283 --> 00:23:09,154
place before the election.

449
00:23:09,154 --> 00:23:13,492
As I indicated, there has
been very clear proof that

450
00:23:13,492 --> 00:23:18,196
they have engaged
in cyberattacks.

451
00:23:18,196 --> 00:23:20,698
This isn't new.

452
00:23:20,699 --> 00:23:24,269
It's not unique to Russia.

453
00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:28,740
There are a number of
states where we've seen

454
00:23:28,740 --> 00:23:36,882
low-level cyberattacks and
industrial espionage and

455
00:23:36,882 --> 00:23:39,117
other behavior that we
think should

456
00:23:39,117 --> 00:23:41,453
be out of bounds.

457
00:23:41,453 --> 00:23:46,825
And I delivered a clear
and forceful message that,

458
00:23:46,825 --> 00:23:50,929
though we
recognize Russia's

459
00:23:50,929 --> 00:23:55,367
intelligence-gathering
will sometimes take place

460
00:23:55,367 --> 00:23:57,969
even if we don't like
it, there's a difference

461
00:23:57,969 --> 00:24:02,440
between that and them
either meddling with

462
00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,544
elections or going after
private organizations or

463
00:24:05,544 --> 00:24:10,549
commercial entities, and
that we're monitoring it

464
00:24:10,549 --> 00:24:13,585
carefully and we will
respond appropriately if

465
00:24:13,585 --> 00:24:17,322
and when we see
this happening.

466
00:24:17,322 --> 00:24:21,193
I do think that this whole
area of cyber is something

467
00:24:21,193 --> 00:24:27,799
that, at an international
level, we have to work on

468
00:24:27,799 --> 00:24:32,204
and develop frameworks
and international norms so

469
00:24:32,204 --> 00:24:41,213
that we don't see
a cyber arms race.

470
00:24:41,213 --> 00:24:44,115
A lot of countries have
advanced capabilities, and

471
00:24:44,115 --> 00:24:48,587
given the vulnerabilities
of our infrastructure and

472
00:24:48,587 --> 00:24:55,160
our economies to digital
platforms, we have to be

473
00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:59,865
careful in making sure
that this doesn't become a

474
00:24:59,865 --> 00:25:06,238
lawless, low-level
battlefield.

475
00:25:06,238 --> 00:25:08,573
And we've started trying
to put together some

476
00:25:08,573 --> 00:25:12,410
principles that were
adopted in the G20, the

477
00:25:12,410 --> 00:25:15,714
G7, and at the U.N.

478
00:25:15,714 --> 00:25:18,450
levels, but a lot more
work remains to be

479
00:25:18,450 --> 00:25:24,222
done on that front.

480
00:25:24,222 --> 00:25:26,892
Chancellor Merkel: (As
interpreted.) Well, allow

481
00:25:26,892 --> 00:25:29,094
me if I may to underline,
first of all, that I'm

482
00:25:29,094 --> 00:25:33,031
very much impressed that,
in spite of a very tough

483
00:25:33,031 --> 00:25:36,268
election campaign, this
transition period in the

484
00:25:36,268 --> 00:25:40,906
United States of America,
because it follows

485
00:25:40,906 --> 00:25:44,609
democratic principles,
is working smoothly.

486
00:25:44,609 --> 00:25:46,678
Because this is all about
the American people, it's

487
00:25:46,678 --> 00:25:49,547
about the destiny of
the American people, the

488
00:25:49,547 --> 00:25:53,785
outgoing administration is
sharing its knowledge, its

489
00:25:53,785 --> 00:25:56,554
expertise with the
incoming administration.

490
00:25:56,554 --> 00:26:00,025
And this to us is a
sign of encouragement to

491
00:26:00,025 --> 00:26:02,627
continue the good
cooperation that we have

492
00:26:02,627 --> 00:26:05,196
built between the United
States of America and the

493
00:26:05,196 --> 00:26:06,898
Federal Republic
of Germany.

494
00:26:06,898 --> 00:26:09,033
And that is in our
mutual interest.

495
00:26:09,034 --> 00:26:10,368
So we will continue this.

496
00:26:10,368 --> 00:26:13,938
I will continue this with
-- I approach this with an

497
00:26:13,939 --> 00:26:17,042
open mind, and I'll do
it on the basis of a deep

498
00:26:17,042 --> 00:26:18,208
conviction with

499
00:26:18,209 --> 00:26:20,812
President-elect Donald Trump.

500
00:26:20,812 --> 00:26:23,348
Secondly, on Russia.

501
00:26:23,348 --> 00:26:27,719
I can only repeat what the
President said previously.

502
00:26:27,719 --> 00:26:28,987
This is all about

503
00:26:28,987 --> 00:26:30,789
respecting certain principles.

504
00:26:30,789 --> 00:26:32,857
And I'm saying this from
a European vantage point,

505
00:26:32,857 --> 00:26:35,927
from a German
vantage point.

506
00:26:35,927 --> 00:26:39,464
So the fact that for over
70 years, we have been

507
00:26:39,464 --> 00:26:43,201
able to enjoy peace, to
live in peace very much

508
00:26:43,201 --> 00:26:46,638
depends on territorial
integrity and sovereignty

509
00:26:46,638 --> 00:26:50,207
of each and every European
country being respected.

510
00:26:50,208 --> 00:26:54,379
In view of the European
history, the reverse would

511
00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:58,216
be the start of a very
bitter road down a

512
00:26:58,216 --> 00:27:00,885
slippery slope, and we
have to

513
00:27:00,885 --> 00:27:02,520
nip this in the bud.

514
00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,823
We have to stand up
resolutely against any

515
00:27:04,823 --> 00:27:05,657
such attempts.

516
00:27:05,657 --> 00:27:07,024
But we are pinning
our

517
00:27:07,025 --> 00:27:08,827
hopes on political efforts.

518
00:27:08,827 --> 00:27:11,162
This is why we launched
the Normandy Process, in

519
00:27:11,162 --> 00:27:12,564
close coordination with
the

520
00:27:12,564 --> 00:27:14,165
United States of America.

521
00:27:14,165 --> 00:27:16,835
And particularly from a
German perspective, from

522
00:27:16,835 --> 00:27:19,971
the European perspective,
I can only say again,

523
00:27:19,971 --> 00:27:21,740
Russia is our neighbor.

524
00:27:21,740 --> 00:27:25,977
Just look at Poland --
the sort of European

525
00:27:25,977 --> 00:27:28,146
perspective this has.

526
00:27:28,146 --> 00:27:30,415
So we have an interest in
seeing this relationship

527
00:27:30,415 --> 00:27:31,616
be a good one.

528
00:27:31,616 --> 00:27:33,618
We have a lot of
historical ties, of

529
00:27:33,618 --> 00:27:35,320
course, a history
that we share.

530
00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,590
But this mustn't keep us
from, wherever we feel

531
00:27:38,590 --> 00:27:40,958
there are very grave
differences of opinion, to

532
00:27:40,959 --> 00:27:44,596
raise them with them,
but, again, with political

533
00:27:44,596 --> 00:27:47,198
means and always trying
to work

534
00:27:47,198 --> 00:27:48,600
for political settlements.

535
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,002
And this what I'm going to
continue to work on with

536
00:27:51,002 --> 00:27:51,803
all my heart.

537
00:27:51,803 --> 00:27:54,672
So on the question whether
I will put up a candidacy,

538
00:27:54,672 --> 00:27:57,575
I will do this at the
appropriate time, and this

539
00:27:57,575 --> 00:28:06,751
is not today.

540
00:28:06,751 --> 00:28:11,923
The Press: Mr. President,
your country is divided.

541
00:28:11,923 --> 00:28:14,059
You, as first black
President, as first

542
00:28:14,059 --> 00:28:16,461
African American
President, who did so many

543
00:28:16,461 --> 00:28:18,997
things so differently, who
raised so much hope all

544
00:28:18,997 --> 00:28:21,232
over the world -- do
you think that you have,

545
00:28:21,232 --> 00:28:24,601
perhaps in a way, put too
much of a strain, maybe

546
00:28:24,602 --> 00:28:26,704
too much of demands
on the Americans?

547
00:28:26,704 --> 00:28:29,573
And to what extent do you
think your successor may

548
00:28:29,574 --> 00:28:31,676
well be a threat to the
rest of the

549
00:28:31,676 --> 00:28:33,078
world, to the security?

550
00:28:33,078 --> 00:28:35,547
Because there are, after
all, nuclear weapons here

551
00:28:35,547 --> 00:28:38,216
in Germany to which
he has access now.

552
00:28:38,216 --> 00:28:41,619
Will you want to now,
Madam Chancellor, see to

553
00:28:41,619 --> 00:28:45,423
it under the your
administration try to make

554
00:28:45,423 --> 00:28:47,659
Europe and Germany less
dependent

555
00:28:47,659 --> 00:28:48,693
on the United States?

556
00:28:48,693 --> 00:28:51,062
And are you afraid of this
wave of populism hitting

557
00:28:51,062 --> 00:28:52,796
Germany, hitting
Europe, as well?

558
00:28:52,797 --> 00:28:54,599
And a personal question.

559
00:28:54,599 --> 00:28:56,701
President Obama paid
tribute to you as an

560
00:28:56,701 --> 00:28:58,136
outstanding politician.

561
00:28:58,136 --> 00:29:00,939
You are somewhat more
sober when you

562
00:29:00,939 --> 00:29:03,475
describe your partner.

563
00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:05,310
How difficult is it for
you to take leave today of

564
00:29:05,310 --> 00:29:12,617
your partner?

565
00:29:12,617 --> 00:29:14,853
The President: My guiding
principle as President has

566
00:29:14,853 --> 00:29:23,061
been to try to do the
right thing even when it's

567
00:29:23,061 --> 00:29:28,933
not politically
convenient; to look at

568
00:29:28,933 --> 00:29:33,838
long term trends in our
economy, in our society,

569
00:29:33,838 --> 00:29:40,145
in the international
sphere, and, using my best

570
00:29:40,145 --> 00:29:44,949
judgment, shape policies
that will serve the

571
00:29:44,949 --> 00:29:47,952
American people, keep them
safe, keep our economy

572
00:29:47,952 --> 00:29:56,027
growing, put people back
to work, and best ensure

573
00:29:56,027 --> 00:29:57,162
peace, cooperation, and

574
00:29:57,162 --> 00:30:00,565
stability around the world.

575
00:30:00,565 --> 00:30:07,672
And based on current
surveys of public opinion

576
00:30:07,672 --> 00:30:11,276
in the United States,
it turns out that the

577
00:30:11,276 --> 00:30:13,845
majority of Americans
think I've done a pretty

578
00:30:13,845 --> 00:30:18,917
good job, that we haven't,
in fact, gone too fast, as

579
00:30:18,917 --> 00:30:22,887
you describe it.

580
00:30:22,887 --> 00:30:26,591
But what is certainly
true is that the American

581
00:30:26,591 --> 00:30:29,226
people -- just like the
German people, just like

582
00:30:29,227 --> 00:30:34,399
the British, and people
around the world -- are

583
00:30:34,399 --> 00:30:38,035
seeing extraordinarily
rapid change.

584
00:30:38,036 --> 00:30:39,470
The world is shrinking.

585
00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:46,010
Economies have become
much more integrated, and

586
00:30:46,010 --> 00:30:50,448
demographics are shifting.

587
00:30:50,448 --> 00:30:53,351
Because of the Internet
and communications, the

588
00:30:53,351 --> 00:30:56,654
clash of cultures
is much more direct.

589
00:30:56,654 --> 00:31:01,793
People feel, I think,
less certain about their

590
00:31:01,793 --> 00:31:09,333
identity, less certain
about economic security.

591
00:31:09,334 --> 00:31:13,705
They're looking for
some means of control.

592
00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:20,611
And what that means is, is
that the politics in all

593
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:32,290
of our countries is going
to require us to manage

594
00:31:32,290 --> 00:31:37,128
technology and global
integration and all these

595
00:31:37,128 --> 00:31:41,666
demographic shifts in a
way that makes people feel

596
00:31:41,666 --> 00:31:47,171
more control, that gives
them more confidence in

597
00:31:47,171 --> 00:31:52,243
their future, but does
not resort to simplistic

598
00:31:52,243 --> 00:32:01,052
answers or divisions of
race or tribe, or the

599
00:32:01,052 --> 00:32:04,621
crude nationalism, which I
think can be contrasted to

600
00:32:04,622 --> 00:32:06,557
the pride of patriotism
that we all feel about our

601
00:32:06,557 --> 00:32:10,695
respective countries.

602
00:32:10,695 --> 00:32:17,302
And I think that our
politics everywhere are

603
00:32:17,302 --> 00:32:22,106
going to be going
through this bumpy phase.

604
00:32:22,106 --> 00:32:25,376
But as long as we stay
true to our democratic

605
00:32:25,376 --> 00:32:31,983
principles, as long as
elections have integrity,

606
00:32:31,983 --> 00:32:36,020
as long as we respect
freedom of speech, freedom

607
00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:40,258
of religion, as long
as there are checks and

608
00:32:40,258 --> 00:32:44,595
balances in our
governments so that the

609
00:32:44,595 --> 00:32:48,900
people have the ability
to not just make judgments

610
00:32:48,900 --> 00:32:51,302
about how well government
is serving them but also

611
00:32:51,302 --> 00:32:53,504
change governments if
they're not serving them

612
00:32:53,504 --> 00:32:56,707
well -- then I have
confidence that over the

613
00:32:56,708 --> 00:33:06,951
long term, progress
will continue.

614
00:33:06,951 --> 00:33:09,687
And I think it's
especially important for

615
00:33:09,687 --> 00:33:18,795
those of us who believe
in a world where we're

616
00:33:18,796 --> 00:33:25,737
interdependent, that
believes in mutual

617
00:33:25,737 --> 00:33:28,673
interests and mutual
respect between nations,

618
00:33:28,673 --> 00:33:31,909
it's particularly
important that we reach

619
00:33:31,909 --> 00:33:35,646
out to everybody in our
countries -- those who

620
00:33:35,646 --> 00:33:38,816
feel disaffected, those
who feel left behind by

621
00:33:38,816 --> 00:33:41,686
globalization -- and
address their concerns in

622
00:33:41,686 --> 00:33:45,656
constructive ways,
as opposed to more

623
00:33:45,656 --> 00:33:47,191
destructive ways.

624
00:33:47,191 --> 00:33:48,760
And I think that
can be done.

625
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,195
But it's hard.

626
00:33:51,195 --> 00:33:52,663
It requires creativity.

627
00:33:52,663 --> 00:33:55,867
It requires effective
communications.

628
00:33:55,867 --> 00:33:59,771
Part of what's changed in
politics is social media

629
00:33:59,771 --> 00:34:02,139
and how people are
receiving information.

630
00:34:02,140 --> 00:34:09,781
It's easier to make
negative attacks and

631
00:34:09,781 --> 00:34:12,150
simplistic slogans than it
is to

632
00:34:12,150 --> 00:34:17,255
communicate complex policies.

633
00:34:17,255 --> 00:34:18,856
But we'll figure it out.

634
00:34:18,856 --> 00:34:25,930
So, ultimately, I remain
optimistic about not just

635
00:34:25,929 --> 00:34:29,000
America's future, but the
direction that the

636
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:30,201
world is going in.

637
00:34:30,201 --> 00:34:32,069
And part of what makes me
most optimistic is if you

638
00:34:32,069 --> 00:34:37,041
look at the attitudes
of young people.

639
00:34:37,041 --> 00:34:41,245
Across the board, young
people are much more

640
00:34:41,245 --> 00:34:45,315
comfortable with
respecting differences.

641
00:34:45,315 --> 00:34:45,783
They are much

642
00:34:45,783 --> 00:34:52,989
more comfortable with diversity.

643
00:34:52,989 --> 00:34:58,796
They are much less likely
to express attitudes that

644
00:34:58,796 --> 00:35:02,366
divide us between
"us" and "them."

645
00:35:02,366 --> 00:35:09,207
They see themselves as
part of a global economy

646
00:35:09,207 --> 00:35:17,147
that they can navigate
successfully, and are

647
00:35:17,148 --> 00:35:18,950
showing enormous
creativity and

648
00:35:18,950 --> 00:35:22,553
entrepreneurship and
working with each other

649
00:35:22,553 --> 00:35:25,756
across borders.

650
00:35:25,756 --> 00:35:29,026
So that's where
the future is.

651
00:35:29,026 --> 00:35:32,163
But we have to create
that bridge to the future.

652
00:35:32,163 --> 00:35:34,265
And that means making sure
we're paying attention to

653
00:35:34,265 --> 00:35:39,270
the wages of workers in
countries and making sure

654
00:35:39,270 --> 00:35:42,640
that we're investing in
their education and their

655
00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:46,877
skills, that we are
growing the economy in

656
00:35:46,878 --> 00:35:49,847
smart ways and rebuilding
our infrastructure and

657
00:35:49,847 --> 00:35:57,288
investing in science and
development, and that we

658
00:35:57,288 --> 00:36:00,124
stay true to those values
that helped get us here.

659
00:36:00,124 --> 00:36:08,899
And if we do that, I think
we're going to be fine.

660
00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:10,668
Chancellor Merkel: (As
interpreted.) On the issue

661
00:36:10,668 --> 00:36:15,306
first of independence of
Germany, after the time of

662
00:36:15,306 --> 00:36:20,144
national socialism,
Germany has been given an

663
00:36:20,144 --> 00:36:23,814
enormous amount of help,
particularly and also from

664
00:36:23,814 --> 00:36:25,750
the United States
of America.

665
00:36:25,750 --> 00:36:31,856
The fact that we were
able to enjoy German

666
00:36:31,856 --> 00:36:35,993
unification is due first
and foremost to the help

667
00:36:35,993 --> 00:36:37,194
of the United
States of America.

668
00:36:37,194 --> 00:36:43,134
And ever since Germany was
able to regain its unity,

669
00:36:43,134 --> 00:36:46,604
it is in an even stronger
position to give its

670
00:36:46,604 --> 00:36:50,207
contribution to upholding
this order to which we

671
00:36:50,207 --> 00:36:53,109
feel committed, and for
which particularly people

672
00:36:53,110 --> 00:36:56,247
in the German Democratic
Republic stood out there

673
00:36:56,247 --> 00:36:59,850
in the streets to keep
this up, to maintain this

674
00:36:59,850 --> 00:37:02,553
order, particularly
also in our country.

675
00:37:02,553 --> 00:37:08,692
Now, we're trying to do
more than it used to be 26

676
00:37:08,693 --> 00:37:09,627
years ago.

677
00:37:09,627 --> 00:37:12,330
And there are a number of
other areas where we have

678
00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:14,765
to also make a
stronger contribution.

679
00:37:14,765 --> 00:37:17,667
We will all have to
do more

680
00:37:17,668 --> 00:37:21,372
in development cooperation.

681
00:37:21,372 --> 00:37:25,710
It's important that these
disparities in the living

682
00:37:25,710 --> 00:37:28,479
conditions cannot be
allowed in this digital

683
00:37:28,479 --> 00:37:31,147
period to be too marked.

684
00:37:31,148 --> 00:37:33,718
Each and every one must
be given an opportunity to

685
00:37:33,718 --> 00:37:36,921
participate -- which is
why Germany's fate, in

686
00:37:36,921 --> 00:37:40,491
many ways, depends on the
firmness of its alliance

687
00:37:40,491 --> 00:37:42,560
with NATO, with
the European Union.

688
00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:44,662
We cannot stand alone
with 80 million people.

689
00:37:44,662 --> 00:37:47,365
In this world of today,
you cannot, when you just

690
00:37:47,365 --> 00:37:50,067
stand on your own, achieve
much -- even though you

691
00:37:50,067 --> 00:37:52,637
may be economically
strong.

692
00:37:52,637 --> 00:37:55,506
So alliances are part of
our destiny as a nation,

693
00:37:55,506 --> 00:37:57,408
part of our future
as a nation.

694
00:37:57,408 --> 00:37:59,743
And this is what guides me
in my policy, what guides

695
00:37:59,744 --> 00:38:01,946
my government as a whole.

696
00:38:01,946 --> 00:38:05,816
Secondly, this wave of
populism that seems to

697
00:38:05,816 --> 00:38:08,819
engulf us, well, look at
-- and it seems, in your

698
00:38:08,819 --> 00:38:10,554
words, to come from
the United States.

699
00:38:10,554 --> 00:38:14,759
Look at the
European Parliament.

700
00:38:14,759 --> 00:38:17,662
There are a lot of people
who are looking for

701
00:38:17,662 --> 00:38:22,767
simplistic solutions,
who are sort of preaching

702
00:38:22,767 --> 00:38:29,240
policies of -- well,
very unfriendly policies.

703
00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:30,674
We have them here
in Europe, too.

704
00:38:30,675 --> 00:38:32,977
We have them here
in Germany, too.

705
00:38:32,977 --> 00:38:35,279
And to take up where
the President left off,

706
00:38:35,279 --> 00:38:39,850
digitization is, in a
way, a disruptive force, a

707
00:38:39,850 --> 00:38:43,187
disruptive technological
force that brings about

708
00:38:43,187 --> 00:38:45,122
deep-seated change,
transformation

709
00:38:45,122 --> 00:38:45,890
of a society.

710
00:38:45,890 --> 00:38:49,627
Look at the history of
the printing press -- when

711
00:38:49,627 --> 00:38:50,628
this was invented, what
sort of

712
00:38:50,628 --> 00:38:51,962
consequences this had.

713
00:38:51,962 --> 00:38:54,165
Or industrialization --
what sort of consequences

714
00:38:54,165 --> 00:38:55,433
that had.

715
00:38:55,433 --> 00:38:58,803
Very often it led to
enormous transformational

716
00:38:58,803 --> 00:39:01,071
processes within
individual societies, and

717
00:39:01,072 --> 00:39:04,508
it took a while until
societies learned how to

718
00:39:04,508 --> 00:39:08,678
find the right kind of
policies to contain this

719
00:39:08,679 --> 00:39:10,381
and to manage
and steer this.

720
00:39:10,381 --> 00:39:13,484
And I think we live in
a period of profound

721
00:39:13,484 --> 00:39:16,220
transformation, very
similar to when we had a

722
00:39:16,220 --> 00:39:18,488
translation from
agricultural societies to

723
00:39:18,489 --> 00:39:19,990
industrial societies.

724
00:39:19,990 --> 00:39:24,462
Now, when we, for example,
see shifts of huge

725
00:39:24,462 --> 00:39:28,099
production lines from
certain areas to other

726
00:39:28,099 --> 00:39:30,868
countries, people tend to
ask the question, where's

727
00:39:30,868 --> 00:39:32,536
my place in this
modern world?

728
00:39:32,536 --> 00:39:34,839
We have this here, this
tendency in our country.

729
00:39:34,839 --> 00:39:36,340
We have it in
other countries.

730
00:39:36,340 --> 00:39:39,510
Trying to keep a society
together, trying to keep

731
00:39:39,510 --> 00:39:42,012
the older and the younger
people together, trying to

732
00:39:42,012 --> 00:39:44,148
keep those who live in
rural areas together with

733
00:39:44,148 --> 00:39:47,718
those who live in cities
is one of the most

734
00:39:47,718 --> 00:39:50,221
important and most noble
tasks of politicians these

735
00:39:50,221 --> 00:39:52,656
days -- trying to see to
it that each and every one

736
00:39:52,656 --> 00:39:54,158
can find his or her place.

737
00:39:54,158 --> 00:39:58,162
But those that belong
purportedly to certain

738
00:39:58,162 --> 00:40:01,198
groups say, we are the
people, and not the others

739
00:40:01,198 --> 00:40:05,368
-- that is something that
we cannot allow to happen.

740
00:40:05,369 --> 00:40:09,340
That is something that I
think, at the time when we

741
00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:14,044
had this in the GDR, when
the people stood in the

742
00:40:14,044 --> 00:40:16,080
street and said, we are
the people -- that was

743
00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:17,715
something that filled
me with great joy.

744
00:40:17,715 --> 00:40:21,185
But the fact that this
people have hijacked it is

745
00:40:21,185 --> 00:40:23,154
not something that
fills me with great joy.

746
00:40:23,154 --> 00:40:25,823
We have to find new ways
of addressing people, new

747
00:40:25,823 --> 00:40:28,292
ways of getting into
contact with people.

748
00:40:28,292 --> 00:40:31,095
But I'm optimistic that
we'll be able to do so.

749
00:40:31,095 --> 00:40:35,765
Now, taking leave from my
partner and friend, well,

750
00:40:35,766 --> 00:40:37,067
yes, it is hard.

751
00:40:37,067 --> 00:40:39,637
If you've worked together
with somebody very well,

752
00:40:39,637 --> 00:40:42,239
leave-taking is
very difficult.

753
00:40:42,239 --> 00:40:43,574
But we are politicians.

754
00:40:43,574 --> 00:40:47,478
We all know that democracy
lives off change.

755
00:40:47,478 --> 00:40:50,848
So in the United States of
America, the Constitution

756
00:40:50,848 --> 00:40:52,817
has very clear
stipulations on this.

757
00:40:52,817 --> 00:40:55,252
It's a tough rule --
eight years and that's it.

758
00:40:55,252 --> 00:40:58,422
Out goes the President
and a new one comes in.

759
00:40:58,422 --> 00:41:03,861
So if it's in the German
interest to have good

760
00:41:03,861 --> 00:41:07,631
transatlantic relations,
well, the task is

761
00:41:07,631 --> 00:41:09,333
also to look ahead.

762
00:41:09,333 --> 00:41:13,337
But personal -- we have
freedom of movement in the

763
00:41:13,337 --> 00:41:15,606
whole of Germany, so if
we want to see each other,

764
00:41:15,606 --> 00:41:18,008
well, I'm game.

765
00:41:18,008 --> 00:41:20,977
So we're not completely
out of this world,

766
00:41:20,978 --> 00:41:22,546
as we would say.

767
00:41:22,546 --> 00:41:23,446
Mr. Earnest: The next
question will come from

768
00:41:23,447 --> 00:41:27,151
Margaret Brennan
at CBS News.

769
00:41:27,151 --> 00:41:27,884
Margaret Brennan:
Thank you very much,

770
00:41:27,885 --> 00:41:29,119
Mr. President.

771
00:41:29,119 --> 00:41:31,522
You've spoken a great
deal about what you've

772
00:41:31,522 --> 00:41:34,225
characterized as kind of a
crude form of nationalism

773
00:41:34,225 --> 00:41:36,026
perhaps on the rise.

774
00:41:36,026 --> 00:41:38,294
I'm wondering if you
would advise some of those

775
00:41:38,295 --> 00:41:41,632
protestors at home to stop
demonstrating against some

776
00:41:41,632 --> 00:41:43,567
of the charged rhetoric
that has been used

777
00:41:43,567 --> 00:41:45,236
by Donald Trump.

778
00:41:45,236 --> 00:41:48,205
And I'm wondering, as
well, if you've advised

779
00:41:48,205 --> 00:41:51,308
your successor to be extra
mindful of what you see as

780
00:41:51,308 --> 00:41:53,677
some very worrisome
trends, particularly when

781
00:41:53,677 --> 00:41:55,546
it comes to making his own

782
00:41:55,546 --> 00:41:58,314
potentially powerful staff picks.

783
00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:00,751
Lastly, sir, in these
final weeks of your

784
00:42:00,751 --> 00:42:04,421
presidency, do you believe
you have any leverage to

785
00:42:04,421 --> 00:42:07,323
stop Bashar al-Assad
and Vladimir Putin from

786
00:42:07,324 --> 00:42:09,927
continuing to bomb Aleppo?

787
00:42:09,927 --> 00:42:13,030
Chancellor Merkel, I'd
like to ask you, Bashar

788
00:42:13,030 --> 00:42:15,232
al-Assad has described
Donald Trump as

789
00:42:15,232 --> 00:42:17,668
a natural ally.

790
00:42:17,668 --> 00:42:20,905
Your own Foreign Minister
has described Donald Trump

791
00:42:20,905 --> 00:42:22,907
as a preacher of hate.

792
00:42:22,907 --> 00:42:25,576
I'm wondering, would you
tell Americans that they

793
00:42:25,576 --> 00:42:33,183
now have a
perception problem?

794
00:42:33,183 --> 00:42:34,952
The President: One of the
great things about our

795
00:42:34,952 --> 00:42:38,255
democracy is it expresses
itself in all sorts of

796
00:42:38,255 --> 00:42:44,995
ways, and that includes
people protesting.

797
00:42:44,995 --> 00:42:49,866
I've been the subject of
protests during the course

798
00:42:49,867 --> 00:42:53,237
of my eight years, and I
suspect that there's not a

799
00:42:53,237 --> 00:42:56,573
President in our history
that, at some point,

800
00:42:56,573 --> 00:43:01,011
hasn't been subject
to these protests.

801
00:43:01,011 --> 00:43:06,083
So I would not advise
people who feel strongly

802
00:43:06,083 --> 00:43:11,322
or are concerned about
some of the issues that

803
00:43:11,322 --> 00:43:13,424
have been raised during
the course of the campaign

804
00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:16,827
-- I wouldn't advise
them to be silent.

805
00:43:16,827 --> 00:43:19,930
What I would advise --
what I advised before the

806
00:43:19,930 --> 00:43:22,198
election and what I will
continue to advise after

807
00:43:22,199 --> 00:43:26,136
the election -- is that
elections matter, voting

808
00:43:26,136 --> 00:43:30,007
matters, organizing
matters, being informed on

809
00:43:30,007 --> 00:43:32,576
the issues matter.

810
00:43:32,576 --> 00:43:37,481
And what I consistently
say to young people -- I

811
00:43:37,481 --> 00:43:39,049
say it in the United
States, but I'll say it

812
00:43:39,049 --> 00:43:42,586
here in Germany and across
Europe -- do not take for

813
00:43:42,586 --> 00:43:47,457
granted our systems of
government and

814
00:43:47,458 --> 00:43:50,294
our way of life.

815
00:43:50,294 --> 00:43:52,261
I think there is a
tendency -- because we

816
00:43:52,262 --> 00:43:57,801
have lived in an era that
has been largely stable

817
00:43:57,801 --> 00:44:01,904
and peaceful, at least in
advanced countries, where

818
00:44:01,905 --> 00:44:07,978
living standards have
generally gone up -- there

819
00:44:07,978 --> 00:44:10,948
is a tendency I think to
assume that that's

820
00:44:10,948 --> 00:44:14,118
always the case.

821
00:44:14,118 --> 00:44:15,219
And it's not.

822
00:44:15,219 --> 00:44:17,955
Democracy is hard work.

823
00:44:17,955 --> 00:44:20,457
In the United States, if
43 percent of eligible

824
00:44:20,457 --> 00:44:29,400
voters do not vote, then
democracy is weakened.

825
00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:38,042
If we are not serious
about facts and what's

826
00:44:38,042 --> 00:44:42,980
true and what's not -- and
particularly in an age of

827
00:44:42,980 --> 00:44:46,316
social media where so many
people are getting their

828
00:44:46,316 --> 00:44:48,852
information in soundbites
and snippets off their

829
00:44:48,852 --> 00:44:55,759
phones -- if we can't
discriminate between

830
00:44:55,759 --> 00:44:59,596
serious arguments and
propaganda, then

831
00:44:59,596 --> 00:45:02,132
we have problems.

832
00:45:02,132 --> 00:45:06,036
If people, whether they
are conservative or

833
00:45:06,036 --> 00:45:08,739
liberal, left or
right, are unwilling to

834
00:45:08,739 --> 00:45:13,510
compromise and engage in
the democratic process,

835
00:45:13,510 --> 00:45:17,347
and are taking absolutist
views and demonizing

836
00:45:17,347 --> 00:45:23,387
opponents, then democracy
will break down.

837
00:45:23,387 --> 00:45:28,725
And so I think my most
important advice is to

838
00:45:28,725 --> 00:45:33,831
understand what are the
foundations of a healthy

839
00:45:33,831 --> 00:45:40,204
democracy, and how we have
to engage in citizenship

840
00:45:40,204 --> 00:45:44,808
continuously, not just
when something upsets us,

841
00:45:44,808 --> 00:45:52,082
not just when there's an
election, or when an issue

842
00:45:52,082 --> 00:45:57,554
pops up for a few weeks.

843
00:45:57,554 --> 00:45:59,556
It's hard work.

844
00:45:59,556 --> 00:46:02,359
And the good news is I
think there are a lot of

845
00:46:02,359 --> 00:46:04,394
young people, certainly,
who were involved in my

846
00:46:04,394 --> 00:46:07,531
campaigns and I think
continue to be involved in

847
00:46:07,531 --> 00:46:13,670
work, not just politically
but through nonprofits and

848
00:46:13,670 --> 00:46:17,174
other organizations, that
can carry this hard work

849
00:46:17,174 --> 00:46:21,078
of democracy forward.

850
00:46:21,078 --> 00:46:23,747
But I do think sometimes
there's complacency.

851
00:46:23,747 --> 00:46:27,116
Here in Europe, I think
that there are a lot of

852
00:46:27,117 --> 00:46:32,289
young people who forget
the issues that were at

853
00:46:32,289 --> 00:46:36,660
stake during the Cold War,
who forget what it meant

854
00:46:36,660 --> 00:46:39,529
to have a wall.

855
00:46:39,530 --> 00:46:41,598
And I'll be honest, there
have been times when I

856
00:46:41,598 --> 00:46:46,136
listened to the rhetoric
in Europe where and easily

857
00:46:46,136 --> 00:46:48,038
equivalence somehow
between the United States

858
00:46:48,038 --> 00:46:53,243
and Russia, and between
how our governments

859
00:46:53,243 --> 00:46:58,048
operate versus other
governments operate --

860
00:46:58,048 --> 00:47:01,718
where those distinctions
aren't made.

861
00:47:01,718 --> 00:47:06,890
I've said many times
around the world that,

862
00:47:06,890 --> 00:47:08,926
like any government, like
any country, like any set

863
00:47:08,926 --> 00:47:13,764
of human institutions,
we have our flaws, we've

864
00:47:13,764 --> 00:47:15,699
operated imperfectly.

865
00:47:15,699 --> 00:47:17,901
There are times when
we've made mistakes.

866
00:47:17,901 --> 00:47:19,435
There are times where
I've made mistakes, or our

867
00:47:19,436 --> 00:47:24,541
administration hasn't
always aligned ourselves

868
00:47:24,541 --> 00:47:26,343
with the values that we

869
00:47:26,343 --> 00:47:28,212
need to align ourselves with.

870
00:47:28,212 --> 00:47:30,047
It's a work of
constant improvement.

871
00:47:30,047 --> 00:47:33,917
But I can say to the
German people that the

872
00:47:33,917 --> 00:47:36,553
United States has been
good for Germany, has

873
00:47:36,553 --> 00:47:40,324
looked out for Germany,
has provided security for

874
00:47:40,324 --> 00:47:43,860
Germany, has helped to
rebuild Germany

875
00:47:43,860 --> 00:47:45,362
and unify Germany.

876
00:47:45,362 --> 00:47:49,366
And I can say, across
Europe, that many

877
00:47:49,366 --> 00:47:53,103
principles that have been
taken for granted here

878
00:47:53,103 --> 00:47:57,040
around free speech and
around civil liberties,

879
00:47:57,040 --> 00:48:03,547
and an independent
judiciary, and fighting

880
00:48:03,547 --> 00:48:08,352
corruption -- those are
principles that, not

881
00:48:08,352 --> 00:48:12,154
perfectly, but generally,
we have tried to apply not

882
00:48:12,155 --> 00:48:14,825
just in our own country
but also with respect to

883
00:48:14,825 --> 00:48:18,028
our foreign policy.

884
00:48:18,028 --> 00:48:22,665
And that should
be remembered.

885
00:48:22,666 --> 00:48:29,406
Because in an age where
there's so much active

886
00:48:29,406 --> 00:48:33,243
misinformation -- and it's
packaged very well and it

887
00:48:33,243 --> 00:48:36,413
looks the same when you
see it on a Facebook page

888
00:48:36,413 --> 00:48:44,087
or you turn on your
television -- where some

889
00:48:44,087 --> 00:48:54,831
overzealousness on
the part of a U.S.

890
00:48:54,831 --> 00:48:58,568
official is equated
with constant and severe

891
00:48:58,568 --> 00:49:08,712
repression elsewhere -- if
everything seems to be the

892
00:49:08,712 --> 00:49:13,850
same and no distinctions
are made, then we won't

893
00:49:13,850 --> 00:49:15,919
know what to protect.

894
00:49:15,919 --> 00:49:17,921
We won't know
what to fight for.

895
00:49:17,921 --> 00:49:22,491
And we can lose so much of
what we've gained in terms

896
00:49:22,492 --> 00:49:27,764
of the kind of democratic
freedoms and market-based

897
00:49:27,764 --> 00:49:30,233
economies and prosperity
that we've come to

898
00:49:30,233 --> 00:49:32,703
take for granted.

899
00:49:32,703 --> 00:49:34,338
That was a long
answer, wasn't it?

900
00:49:34,338 --> 00:49:37,374
I don't remember if there
was a second part to it.

901
00:49:37,374 --> 00:49:40,009
I got all caught
up in that one.

902
00:49:40,010 --> 00:49:42,379
Margaret Brennan: I asked
you if you advised the

903
00:49:42,379 --> 00:49:45,482
President-elect on things
--

904
00:49:45,482 --> 00:49:47,617
The President: Yes, I did.

905
00:49:47,617 --> 00:49:50,754
I did.

906
00:49:50,754 --> 00:49:54,091
He ran a extraordinarily
unconventional campaign,

907
00:49:54,091 --> 00:49:58,662
and it resulted in the
biggest political upset in

908
00:49:58,662 --> 00:50:03,165
perhaps modern political
history --

909
00:50:03,166 --> 00:50:04,735
American history.

910
00:50:04,735 --> 00:50:10,507
And that means that he
now has to

911
00:50:10,507 --> 00:50:13,210
transition to governance.

912
00:50:13,210 --> 00:50:18,181
And what I said to him
was that what may work in

913
00:50:18,181 --> 00:50:27,524
generating enthusiasm or
passion during elections

914
00:50:27,524 --> 00:50:29,759
may be different than
what will work in terms of

915
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:34,731
unifying the country and
gaining the trust even of

916
00:50:34,731 --> 00:50:36,933
those who didn't
support him.

917
00:50:36,933 --> 00:50:43,807
And he's indicated his
willingness to -- his

918
00:50:43,807 --> 00:50:45,207
understanding of that.

919
00:50:45,208 --> 00:50:46,610
But you're absolutely
right that that has to

920
00:50:46,610 --> 00:50:49,446
reflect itself not only
in the things he says, but

921
00:50:49,446 --> 00:50:54,451
also how he fills out
his administration.

922
00:50:54,451 --> 00:50:58,188
And my hope is, is that
that's something he is

923
00:50:58,188 --> 00:51:08,231
thinking about, because
not only is the President

924
00:51:08,231 --> 00:51:12,335
of the United States
somebody that the entire

925
00:51:12,335 --> 00:51:19,843
country looks to for
direction but sets the

926
00:51:19,843 --> 00:51:24,548
agenda internationally
in a lot of ways.

927
00:51:24,548 --> 00:51:27,517
Margaret Brennan:
And Syria?

928
00:51:27,517 --> 00:51:31,053
The President: With
respect to Syria, we are

929
00:51:31,054 --> 00:51:34,558
going to continue to work,
as we have over the last

930
00:51:34,558 --> 00:51:40,630
five, six years, to
push towards a political

931
00:51:40,630 --> 00:51:44,000
transition and settlement.

932
00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:48,638
It would be naïve of me to
suggest that with Russia

933
00:51:48,638 --> 00:51:56,011
committed militarily as it
is to supporting what, in

934
00:51:56,012 --> 00:51:58,381
many cases, are barbarous
tactics by the Assad

935
00:51:58,381 --> 00:52:04,354
regime to crush the
opposition, the sort of

936
00:52:04,354 --> 00:52:06,323
indiscriminate bombing
that we've been seeing not

937
00:52:06,323 --> 00:52:09,225
just in Aleppo but in many
parts of the country over

938
00:52:09,226 --> 00:52:11,428
the last several years --
it would be naïve of me to

939
00:52:11,428 --> 00:52:16,098
suggest that there's going
to be a sudden, 180-degree

940
00:52:16,099 --> 00:52:22,672
turn in policy by either
Assad or Russia or Iran

941
00:52:22,672 --> 00:52:23,974
at this point.

942
00:52:23,974 --> 00:52:25,842
But we are going to
continue to make

943
00:52:25,842 --> 00:52:27,611
the argument.

944
00:52:27,611 --> 00:52:29,712
We are going to
continue to try to find

945
00:52:29,713 --> 00:52:33,149
humanitarian steps that
can reach

946
00:52:33,149 --> 00:52:34,584
the people there.

947
00:52:34,584 --> 00:52:37,821
We're going to continue to
try to obtain Cessations

948
00:52:37,821 --> 00:52:43,593
of Hostilities that lessen
the human tragedy and the

949
00:52:43,593 --> 00:52:47,964
migration that's
taking place.

950
00:52:47,964 --> 00:52:53,169
But, ultimately, the
way this is going to be

951
00:52:53,169 --> 00:53:00,710
resolved is going to have
to be a recognition by

952
00:53:00,710 --> 00:53:09,452
Russia, and a willingness
to pressure Assad that a

953
00:53:09,452 --> 00:53:13,423
lasting, durable peace
with a functioning country

954
00:53:13,423 --> 00:53:15,926
requires the
consent of people.

955
00:53:15,926 --> 00:53:18,395
You cannot purchase
people's consent

956
00:53:18,395 --> 00:53:21,898
through killing them.

957
00:53:21,898 --> 00:53:28,538
They haven't made that
transition yet, but we're

958
00:53:28,538 --> 00:53:35,712
going to keep on trying.

959
00:53:35,712 --> 00:53:36,680
Chancellor Merkel: (
interpreted.) I think I

960
00:53:36,680 --> 00:53:41,283
can speak for the whole
of the federal government

961
00:53:41,284 --> 00:53:46,323
when I say that we are no
longer in election mode in

962
00:53:46,323 --> 00:53:48,825
the United States, we're
in post-election mode.

963
00:53:48,825 --> 00:53:51,528
There is an interest of
the Federal Republic of

964
00:53:51,528 --> 00:53:54,763
Germany to cooperate well
with the United

965
00:53:54,764 --> 00:53:56,866
States of America.

966
00:53:56,866 --> 00:53:58,868
This goes for each and
every President on the

967
00:53:58,868 --> 00:54:01,938
basis of shared values,
and I believe that these

968
00:54:01,938 --> 00:54:03,974
are, indeed, shared
values, and should be

969
00:54:03,974 --> 00:54:05,041
shared values.

970
00:54:05,041 --> 00:54:09,312
So as to my position on
President Assad, Assad as

971
00:54:09,312 --> 00:54:16,853
President has actively
tried to

972
00:54:16,853 --> 00:54:18,688
kill his own people.

973
00:54:18,688 --> 00:54:22,025
He has bombed them with
barrel bombs in a

974
00:54:22,025 --> 00:54:24,361
most terrible way.

975
00:54:24,361 --> 00:54:27,797
He has brought untold
suffering over his people

976
00:54:27,797 --> 00:54:29,332
-- if you look at
Aleppo and other places.

977
00:54:29,332 --> 00:54:33,435
When you talk to the many
Syrian refugees who have

978
00:54:33,436 --> 00:54:37,140
fled here to Germany, they
will be able to tell you

979
00:54:37,140 --> 00:54:40,343
their own personal story,
and the majority of them

980
00:54:40,343 --> 00:54:43,613
-- the great majority of
them -- fled from Assad,

981
00:54:43,613 --> 00:54:46,915
and most of them not
even fled the IS.

982
00:54:46,916 --> 00:54:52,188
So I don't see
him as an ally.

983
00:54:52,188 --> 00:54:55,191
The Press: Thank
you very much.

984
00:54:55,191 --> 00:54:58,727
Mr. President, you
describe your hopes rather

985
00:54:58,728 --> 00:55:01,131
more in great
historical terms.

986
00:55:01,131 --> 00:55:05,035
Let me break this down
to months and years.

987
00:55:05,035 --> 00:55:08,138
The fact that Stephen
Bannon was made as chief

988
00:55:08,138 --> 00:55:11,473
strategist, meeting Mr.
Farage, and the fact

989
00:55:11,474 --> 00:55:14,744
that prominent Republican
representatives did not

990
00:55:14,744 --> 00:55:18,048
decide to join this
transition team -- what

991
00:55:18,048 --> 00:55:21,718
makes you confident,
against the background of

992
00:55:21,718 --> 00:55:24,520
this, that President Trump
can be a reliable partner

993
00:55:24,521 --> 00:55:26,589
to the world and to
Europe and Germany?

994
00:55:26,589 --> 00:55:30,093
Now, Madam Chancellor, if
you hear those words of

995
00:55:30,093 --> 00:55:33,696
praise of the President
with regard to you --

996
00:55:33,697 --> 00:55:38,635
this, what he said, can
this not sort of demand

997
00:55:38,635 --> 00:55:41,871
too much from you
and from Germany?

998
00:55:41,871 --> 00:55:43,707
Because too much is
demanded, too much is

999
00:55:43,707 --> 00:55:45,674
expected from you
-- too great are the

1000
00:55:45,675 --> 00:55:52,749
expectations, you
can't meet them?

1001
00:55:52,749 --> 00:56:00,055
The President: I'm
always optimistic.

1002
00:56:00,056 --> 00:56:06,763
There were times where I
was in the Oval Office and

1003
00:56:06,763 --> 00:56:08,998
people would come to
me with all kinds of

1004
00:56:08,998 --> 00:56:11,968
political problems and
policy problems and

1005
00:56:11,968 --> 00:56:15,004
international problems,
and my team would be

1006
00:56:15,004 --> 00:56:22,178
getting discouraged and
depressed, and I would say

1007
00:56:22,178 --> 00:56:26,516
to them, I have to be
optimistic, because the

1008
00:56:26,516 --> 00:56:31,287
odds of somebody named
Barack Obama being

1009
00:56:31,287 --> 00:56:34,823
President of the United
States were very low, and

1010
00:56:34,824 --> 00:56:44,501
the fact that, in my
lifetime, I have seen such

1011
00:56:44,501 --> 00:56:47,670
enormous, positive change
in the United States and

1012
00:56:47,670 --> 00:56:59,315
around the world tells
me that, although history

1013
00:56:59,315 --> 00:57:03,019
does not travel in a
straight line, it moves in

1014
00:57:03,019 --> 00:57:06,689
the direction of justice
and freedom and a better

1015
00:57:06,689 --> 00:57:12,328
life for people.

1016
00:57:12,328 --> 00:57:13,563
But we have to
fight for it.

1017
00:57:13,563 --> 00:57:17,433
We have to work for it.

1018
00:57:17,433 --> 00:57:25,608
What makes me cautiously
optimistic about my

1019
00:57:25,608 --> 00:57:30,113
successor and the shift
from campaign mode to

1020
00:57:30,113 --> 00:57:38,988
governance is there's
something about the solemn

1021
00:57:38,988 --> 00:57:46,395
responsibilities of that
office, the extraordinary

1022
00:57:46,396 --> 00:57:53,469
demands that are placed on
the United States -- not

1023
00:57:53,469 --> 00:57:58,041
just by its own people but
by people around the world

1024
00:57:58,041 --> 00:58:06,816
-- that forces you to
focus,

1025
00:58:06,816 --> 00:58:17,627
that demands seriousness.

1026
00:58:17,627 --> 00:58:22,532
And if you're not serious
about the job, then you

1027
00:58:22,532 --> 00:58:26,736
probably won't be there
very long because it will

1028
00:58:26,736 --> 00:58:29,973
expose problems.

1029
00:58:29,973 --> 00:58:35,211
Even when you're doing
a job, even when you are

1030
00:58:35,211 --> 00:58:39,448
attentive, there are so
many things that come

1031
00:58:39,449 --> 00:58:42,018
across your desk that
people are going to

1032
00:58:42,018 --> 00:58:45,054
question you, and you're
going to have opponents

1033
00:58:45,054 --> 00:58:49,125
and you're going to have
critics, and you figure

1034
00:58:49,125 --> 00:58:51,961
that out pretty fast when
you're sitting there.

1035
00:58:51,961 --> 00:58:55,198
And I think the
President-elect is going

1036
00:58:55,198 --> 00:59:02,504
to see fairly quickly
that the demands and

1037
00:59:02,505 --> 00:59:04,707
responsibilities of a U.S.

1038
00:59:04,707 --> 00:59:08,645
President are not ones
that you can treat

1039
00:59:08,645 --> 00:59:13,816
casually, and that in
a big, complex, diverse

1040
00:59:13,816 --> 00:59:17,754
country, the only way that
you can be successful is

1041
00:59:17,754 --> 00:59:21,290
by listening and reaching
out and working with a

1042
00:59:21,291 --> 00:59:26,029
wide variety of people.

1043
00:59:26,029 --> 00:59:29,933
And so it is my hope that
that is what will happen.

1044
00:59:29,933 --> 00:59:32,135
And I'm going to do
everything I can over the

1045
00:59:32,135 --> 00:59:39,008
next two months to help
assure that that happens.

1046
00:59:39,008 --> 00:59:42,278
It is absolutely true that
Chancellor Merkel is going

1047
00:59:42,278 --> 00:59:45,881
to have significant
responsibilities, has had

1048
00:59:45,882 --> 00:59:52,722
extraordinary burdens
that she's had to carry.

1049
00:59:52,722 --> 00:59:55,024
If she chooses to
continue, you're right,

1050
00:59:55,024 --> 00:59:59,362
she will have big burdens.

1051
00:59:59,362 --> 01:00:02,999
I wish I could be there to
lighten her load somewhat,

1052
01:00:02,999 --> 01:00:07,203
but she's tough.

1053
01:00:07,203 --> 01:00:12,141
And I have --
I know what it means to

1054
01:00:12,141 --> 01:00:15,611
carry burdens because the
fact of the matter is, is

1055
01:00:15,611 --> 01:00:18,047
that if there are problems
around the world, the

1056
01:00:18,047 --> 01:00:20,516
first question people ask
is, why isn't Washington

1057
01:00:20,516 --> 01:00:25,555
doing something about it?

1058
01:00:25,555 --> 01:00:30,692
This is why it's so
important not to discount

1059
01:00:30,693 --> 01:00:33,196
or take for granted
the importance of the

1060
01:00:33,196 --> 01:00:35,565
Transatlantic Alliance.

1061
01:00:35,565 --> 01:00:41,838
And this is probably the
best place for me to end.

1062
01:00:41,838 --> 01:00:46,376
In international for a --
in G20s, in G7s, in the

1063
01:00:46,376 --> 01:00:49,579
United Nations -- the
United States and Germany

1064
01:00:49,579 --> 01:00:52,315
are not always
perfectly aligned.

1065
01:00:52,315 --> 01:00:56,452
America and Europe are not
always perfectly aligned.

1066
01:00:56,452 --> 01:01:01,791
But the voice that speaks
out on behalf of some

1067
01:01:01,791 --> 01:01:05,495
dissident who is jailed
halfway around the world,

1068
01:01:05,495 --> 01:01:08,964
the voice who is
expressing concern about

1069
01:01:08,965 --> 01:01:12,135
some child in an African
village who doesn't have

1070
01:01:12,135 --> 01:01:14,771
clean drinking water or is
subject to some terrible

1071
01:01:14,771 --> 01:01:22,445
disease, the voice that
insists on rules and norms

1072
01:01:22,445 --> 01:01:28,418
governing international
affairs, the voice that

1073
01:01:28,418 --> 01:01:33,022
helps to steer the world
away from war wherever

1074
01:01:33,022 --> 01:01:40,395
possible -- that's our
voice more often than not.

1075
01:01:40,396 --> 01:01:43,733
And we're not
always successful.

1076
01:01:43,733 --> 01:01:48,404
But if that voice is
absent, or if that voice

1077
01:01:48,404 --> 01:01:53,676
is divided, we will
be living in a meaner,

1078
01:01:53,676 --> 01:01:58,848
harsher, more
troubled world.

1079
01:01:58,848 --> 01:02:00,049
And we have to
remember that.

1080
01:02:00,049 --> 01:02:00,850
And whoever is the U.S.

1081
01:02:00,850 --> 01:02:02,585
President, and whoever is
the Chancellor of Germany,

1082
01:02:02,585 --> 01:02:09,525
and whoever is the leader
of other European nations

1083
01:02:09,525 --> 01:02:11,928
and other democracies
around the world -- they

1084
01:02:11,928 --> 01:02:16,699
need to recognize that.

1085
01:02:16,699 --> 01:02:21,471
There are going to be
forces that argue for

1086
01:02:21,471 --> 01:02:26,576
cynicism, for looking the
other way with somebody

1087
01:02:26,576 --> 01:02:30,746
else's problems, that
are not going to champion

1088
01:02:30,746 --> 01:02:33,716
people who are vulnerable
because sometimes that's

1089
01:02:33,716 --> 01:02:35,418
politically convenient.

1090
01:02:35,418 --> 01:02:38,688
And if we don't have
a strong transatlantic

1091
01:02:38,688 --> 01:02:42,725
alliance that's standing
up for those things, we

1092
01:02:42,725 --> 01:02:46,295
will be giving to our
children a worse world.

1093
01:02:46,295 --> 01:02:49,031
We will go backwards
instead of forwards.

1094
01:02:49,031 --> 01:02:49,732
So whoever the U.S.

1095
01:02:49,732 --> 01:02:52,201
President is, whoever the
Chancellor of Germany is,

1096
01:02:52,201 --> 01:02:54,370
we need to remember that.

1097
01:02:54,370 --> 01:02:56,506
And our citizenry who
decide who our Presidents

1098
01:02:56,506 --> 01:03:05,013
and Chancellors are
need to remember that.

1099
01:03:05,014 --> 01:03:10,686
Chancellor Merkel: (As
interpreted.) It is, after

1100
01:03:10,686 --> 01:03:14,123
all, a very good thing
if, after eight years of

1101
01:03:14,123 --> 01:03:16,159
cooperation, the President
of the United States says

1102
01:03:16,159 --> 01:03:19,162
that this is a cooperation
based on friendship, that

1103
01:03:19,162 --> 01:03:21,464
we cooperated well.

1104
01:03:21,464 --> 01:03:24,933
I feel that this is a
very good, a very positive

1105
01:03:24,934 --> 01:03:28,538
message, and, indeed,
an encouragement for me.

1106
01:03:28,538 --> 01:03:32,942
Now, secondly, I,
fortunately, know very

1107
01:03:32,942 --> 01:03:35,678
many people -- and there
are many, many more that I

1108
01:03:35,678 --> 01:03:37,946
don't know, and many
politicians -- who stand

1109
01:03:37,947 --> 01:03:40,883
up for the same values
of democracy, of liberal

1110
01:03:40,883 --> 01:03:44,053
societies, of open
societies, of respect for

1111
01:03:44,053 --> 01:03:48,124
the dignity of man.

1112
01:03:48,124 --> 01:03:52,294
And I feel that we are in
a community of people here

1113
01:03:52,295 --> 01:03:54,397
who stand up for these
values, who try to

1114
01:03:54,397 --> 01:03:56,766
maintain them, and
wherever they are not yet

1115
01:03:56,766 --> 01:04:00,203
respected, stand up for
people's rights to enjoy

1116
01:04:00,203 --> 01:04:01,037
them, as well.

1117
01:04:01,037 --> 01:04:04,073
And this is worth
every effort.

1118
01:04:04,073 --> 01:04:06,375
But I think we're
gratified to know that

1119
01:04:06,375 --> 01:04:08,611
there are many, many
people who feel committed

1120
01:04:08,611 --> 01:04:09,444
to this goal.

1121
01:04:09,445 --> 01:04:10,379
Thank you very much.