Chancellor in Jordan and Lebanon
Lebanon and Jordan can count on further German assistance to cope with the refugee situation there. This assurance was given by the Chancellor during her visit to the Middle East. These two countries are amongst those who have taken in the most Syrian refugees.
Merkel: We want to help implement the structural reforms in Lebanon.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Kugler
Lebanon deserves the greatest respect, that a country with 4.5 million inhabitants has taken in more than a million refugees, said Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel after talks with the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Economic development is the top priority for the stability of the country, continued Merkel. Germany would like to make a contribution to this, said the Chancellor.
Greatest respect for taking in refugees
The Federal Government supports Lebanon in particular with caring for refugees in the areas of education, vocational training and water supply. In 2017, it provided around 370 million Euros for this purpose. In Lebanon there are more than one million Syrian refugees, of which 400,000 are school-age children.
Before the meeting with the Lebanese Prime Minister, the Chancellor visited a so-called dual-shift school: a facility where Lebanese children are taught in the morning and Syrian refugee children in the afternoon. "Many schools operate in two shifts, to be able to teach all the children," said Merkel. "Germany has always committed itself to assisting the UN organisations doing humanitarian work here, and also to supporting Lebanon in its development programmes."
Amman, 21.06.18: Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first stop on her Jordan trip was at the German-Jordanian University. She was welcomed by University President Manar Fayyad.
The students discussed several topics with Merkel, including refugee policy, the Syria conflict, education and the advancement of women. Around 4,300 students are currently studying at the university, which receives funding from Germany.
Then it was off to Al Husseiniya Palace for talks with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah.
The focal point of the discussions: the situation in the region. Jordan has taken in almost 700,000 refugees from neighbouring Syria.
Germany will assist the country with its reform efforts required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), by providing an additional credit of 100 million US dollars.
At the end of her trip, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the air force base in al-Azraq.
The Bundeswehr soldiers are part of a coalition of more than 60 nations, and support the fight against the "Islamic State" (ISIS) terrorist militia.
Amongst other things, the mandate includes aerial reconnaissance, mission support by tanker aircraft, as well as sea and airspace surveillance.
The Chancellor then travelled on to Lebanon. Here she is being welcomed in the capital Beirut in the evening by Prime Minister Saad Rafiq Hariri.
Lebanon is also struggling with the effects of the civil war in neighbouring Syria. According to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, the country has taken in nearly one million refugees.
Beirut, 22.06.18: The next day begins with an exchange with UN representatives about the refugee crisis.
It was followed by a visit to the dual-shift public school in Ras Beirut neighbourhood, which educates children from kindergarten age up to the 9th grade.
The school is supported by the "Reaching All Children with Education" programme, in collaboration with UNICEF. The German support is provided via the KfW development bank.
In the mornings, about 250 Lebanese children and Syrian refugee children learn at the facility. In the afternoons, another approximately 600 Syrian refugee children attend school.
With 1.2 million refugees, Lebanon has taken in more refugees than Germany. Germany also wants to make a contribution, so that people can return to their home country.
"But there must be safe conditions, if a return is to be considered," said Merkel. foreign policy, Lebanon
Before her return to Germany in the afternoon, a meeting at the Presidential Palace was still on the programme.
Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking about current topics with President Michel Aoun.
More growth and prosperity
The Chancellor and Prime Minister Saad Hariri then met with a business delegation. She pointed to the government's plans to invest, "and specifically for the benefit of the people in Lebanon". Merkel continued: "I think that Germany can make a good contribution here, both in the area of energy and also of waste management. The chambers of commerce have already made it clear today that a chamber of commerce will be established here in Lebanon."
Economic development is the top priority for the stability of Lebanon, said the Chancellor. This means, "also making a contribution, so that the expectations of the Lebanese population are met". The Chancellor referred to growth, more prosperity, less state debt and more transparency.
Support for Jordan
The day before, the Chancellor had also talked about the difficult situation in the region with the Jordanian King Abdullah II. Jordan is a valued partner for Germany, because it promotes stability in the Middle East. The Chancellor expressed her gratitude for the "excellent cooperation" in dealing with the Syrian conflict.
Germany will assist Jordan in its reform efforts with an additional credit amounting to 100 million US dollars. It was also a matter of providing some support for the reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund, said the Chancellor. For its cooperation in the joint development efforts, the country has already received 384 million Euros.
Since 2012, the Federal Government has supported Jordan with nearly two billion Euros: for educational programmes, providing care in in refugee camps, as well as for training rescue workers and police.
Tackling the Syrian conflict together
The civil war in Syria has had a dramatic impact on Jordan. In recent years, more than half a million people have sought refuge from violence and terror in the neighbouring country.
The Chancellor highlighted what Jordan accomplishes in caring for refugees. "There are well over one million people. More than 200,000 children must be educated. In a country that of course also faces very many challenges itself, which it must manage." Therefore, we have the greatest respect for what is being accomplished. However, we must not forget "that the people of Jordan also need a good future for themselves".
Visiting students
At the German-Jordanian University in Amman, the Chancellor held a discussion with 150 students. Here too, the topic was the Syrian conflict - along with the promotion of women. The Chancellor was impressed with "the enthusiasm and the energy with which the students approach their vocational training and their studies". "This is a good sign for Jordan," she added.
When asked about Germany’s asylum policy, she campaigned for "orderly and controlled migration". At the same time, Merkel emphasised: "We must be an open country."
The fight against the "Islamic State" (ISIS) terrorist militia in the region is also supported by German soldiers.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Kugler
Gratitude for mission against the Islamic State
At the end of her stay in Jordan, Merkel visited Bundeswehr soldiers deployed there in the fight against ISIS. "I thank you once again from the bottom of my heart, for your work for peace and for security," said Merkel. The Chancellor emphasised the importance of the Bundeswehr deployment against the terror network: "There is a direct connection between what you do here and our security at home."
The Bundeswehr has Tornado reconnaissance aircraft as well as tanker aircraft stationed in Jordan, to support the international alliance against the ISIS terrorist militia.