US/ Germany - Congress

Merkel thanks US for support

Article published on the 2009-11-03 Latest update 2009-11-03 17:04 TU

Angela Merkel and Barack Obama.
(Photo: Reuters)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a rare address to the US Congress on Tuesday, thanking Americans for their support when the Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago. She also paid tribute to victims of the Holocaust.

Merkel said Germany would never forget the contribution made by the United States during the re-unification of Germany. In turn, President Obama called Germany a strong ally and praised the extraordinary leadership of the Chancellor.

Merkel called the Holocaust a “break with civilization” as she paid tribute to six million Jews and others who perished under Hitler’s Third Reich.

She denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for being a Holocaust denier, saying it would be unacceptable for his country to get a nuclear bomb.

“A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian president who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist is not acceptable,” she said.