Germany's Merkel to address Israeli assembly
Saturday, 15 March 2008
BERLIN, Mar 14 (Reuters): Angela Merkel becomes the first German chancellor to address Israel's parliament next week, despite opposition from a small number of parliamentarians, more than six decades after the end of World War Two.
Merkel's three-day trip, starting Sunday, marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 and is intended to help further normalize relations between Germany and Israel.
She will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers and launch annual consultations between the governments. Talks Monday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will include discussion of Iran's nuclear programme.
Merkel's three-day trip, starting Sunday, marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 and is intended to help further normalize relations between Germany and Israel.
She will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers and launch annual consultations between the governments. Talks Monday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will include discussion of Iran's nuclear programme.