Mohammed bin Zayed meets Merkel

Berlin, Jan 13, 2009 (WAM) - HH Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces held talks here yesterday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The talks focussed on ways to bolster bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Germany. Other issues covered in the talks included the current situation in Gaza, including efforts to bring about a durable ceasefire.

In this context, Sheikh Mohammed hailed the German endeavours to bring peace and stability in the Middle East, notably in reaching the UN Security Council resolution 1860, which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Sheikh Mohammed called on peace loving nations to put pressure to bear on Israel to halt its aggression against the Palestinian people.

For her part Chancellor Merkel reiterated her country's keenness to bolster ties with the UAE, saying that the UAE is not only an economic force to reckon with but also a significant political player in the region.

"The strong UAE's economic portfolio, coupled with its unique investment position in the global investment map makes it a perfect strategic partner for Germany", said Chancellor Merkel.

She also praised the UAE's foreign policy which, she said, won it a distinguished politico-economic position in the world.

Chancellor Merkel stressed the need to implement the UN resolution to bring about ceasefire and end the current conflict in Gaza.