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Merkel in Japan “Settling the Past Is the Precondition for Reconciliation”

입력 2015.03.10 17:57

Yun Hui-il Tokyo Correspondent

On March 9, German Chancellor Angela Merkel who visited Japan said that settling the past was the premise for reconciliation (between a country which started a war and its victim states) and stressed her position that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe squarely face the past.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

At a joint press conference held after a summit with Prime Minister Abe this day, Merkel, who visited Japan for the first time in seven years, mentioned that there had been discussions in Germany about how to handle the terrifying crimes committed by the Nazi and said that Germany was able to bring Europe together later on because it had settled its mistakes of World War II. Her statements stressed how Germany was able to improve its relations with its neighboring countries because it had admitted its wrongdoings during World War II and apologized.

Merkel further said that (behind the reconciliation in Europe) there was the tolerance of the neighboring countries and mentioned that neighboring states such as South Korea and China also needed to change their approach. At the same time she said that the countries in East Asia should put in all their efforts on peaceful endeavors.

Earlier this morning at a lecture at the Asahi Shimbun, Merkel received a question about how the East Asian countries could improve their relations and reconcile. She answered that they were able to achieve reconciliation in Europe because Germany had faced its past and urged the Abe government to squarely face their past history.

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As for Germany’s decision to turn away from nuclear power plants after the explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in March 2011, Merkel said that she realized that there really were unexpected dangers after witnessing the accident occurring in Japan, a country with advanced technoloy.

Merkel did not mention it directly at this day’s lecture, but on March 7 ahead of her visit to Japan, the German government posted a video on its website in which Merkel strongly urged Japan to seek a policy away from nuclear power plants asking Japan to walk with Germany on a path away from nuclear power plants.

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Merkel in Japan “Settling the Past Is the Precondition for Reconciliation”

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