02:32Germany: Merkel talks refugee crisis with SA's Zuma on president's first state visit
South African President Jacob Zuma was greeted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Tuesday, as the African leader makes his first official visit to Germany.
Zuma was met at by a guard of honour, followed by a press conference with the German leader. Both heads of state touted bilateral ties between the two counters, with Zuma applauding Germany as South Africa's second largest global trading partner.
Questions quickly turned to the refugee crisis, with Merkel being grilled on Slovenia's recent decision to implement urgent measures to strengthen border controls with neighbouring Croatia, as refugees continue to arrive. Merkel commented that Slovenia is also part of the Schengen system, saying that "If the problems of the refugees can be solved at the external borders to the European Union then Slovenia would not need to resort to such emergency measures."
Merkel also discussed the UK's proposed EU reforms, to which the German chancellor remarked that "what is on the table is no surprise, we want to work on the proposals with a solution-oriented attitude." She continued by saying that "Germany will definitely contribute and do everything that is possible within the European rules."
During Zuma's German visit, he is also set to meet with German President Joachim Gauck.
02:32South African President Jacob Zuma was greeted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Tuesday, as the African leader makes his first official visit to Germany.
Zuma was met at by a guard of honour, followed by a press conference with the German leader. Both heads of state touted bilateral ties between the two counters, with Zuma applauding Germany as South Africa's second largest global trading partner.
Questions quickly turned to the refugee crisis, with Merkel being grilled on Slovenia's recent decision to implement urgent measures to strengthen border controls with neighbouring Croatia, as refugees continue to arrive. Merkel commented that Slovenia is also part of the Schengen system, saying that "If the problems of the refugees can be solved at the external borders to the European Union then Slovenia would not need to resort to such emergency measures."
Merkel also discussed the UK's proposed EU reforms, to which the German chancellor remarked that "what is on the table is no surprise, we want to work on the proposals with a solution-oriented attitude." She continued by saying that "Germany will definitely contribute and do everything that is possible within the European rules."
During Zuma's German visit, he is also set to meet with German President Joachim Gauck.