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5/16/07

EiTB24: Sarkozy pledges to end EU's paralysis as he meets Merkel


For the complete report from EiTB24 click on this link

Sarkozy pledges to end EU's paralysis as he meets Merkel

New French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to help end the European Union's "paralysis" and signaled an energetic approach to foreign policy, hours after taking office Wednesday. "I did not want just to make a symbolic gesture; I wanted to express my wish that we get to work straight away," Sarkozy told reporters after embracing German Chancellor Angela Merkel warmly on his arrival at her office in Berlin. "It is urgent to act," he said. "The first matter of urgency is to get the European Union out of its current paralysis."

Merkel said Germany and France would work closely together on the issue, and voiced confidence that next month's EU summit "will move us forward a step." Merkel made her first foreign trip to Paris the day after she took office in November 2005. "For France, Franco-German friendship is sacred," Sarkozy said. Turning to Merkel, he said: "I have great confidence in you, and great friendship for you."

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