Foreign missions
Chancellor Angela Merkel has held a reception at the Federal Chancellery for the families of German soldiers and police officers serving abroad. The Chancellor made the most of the opportunity to speak directly to the families in order to gain a first-hand impression of the pressures on them.
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Just before Christmas the Chancellor traditionally holds a reception for the families of German soliders and police officers serving abroad
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
Angela Merkel welcomed more than 50 family members of soldiers and police officers, including a large number of children. She thanked them, as representatives of all those who currently separated from their loved ones, who are serving abroad.
She said to the family members, "It is good to know that you are there to support the people serving abroad so that we can enjoy Christmas in safety and security."
A Christmassy setting for a chat
The reception for the families of soldiers and police officers serving overseas has been held at the Federal Chancellery since 2003. Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière and Bundeswehr Inspector General Volker Wieker also attended.
The Chancellor was able to carry on her conversations with family members at the traditionally decorated table.
Currently, more than 5,100 soldiers are serving outside Germany. Most of them are stationed in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Turkey. German troops are, however, also involved in various missions in Africa, around the Horn of Africa and along the Lebanese coast. About 300 police officers are involved in international police missions.