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National Friday 4 January 2013 - 12:03

Updated | Angela Merkel to host Lawrence Gonzi in Berlin

Prime Minister flies to Berlin two days after parliament is dissolved.

Lawrence Gonzi and Angela Merkel at an EPP meeting.
Karl Stagno-Navarra

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is to meet German chancellor Angela Merkel next Wednesday, 9 January, a Chancellery spokesman said today in Berlin.

Gonzi will be hosted by Merkel at 1:30pm in Berlin, two days after the Maltese parliament is dissolved and the election campaign starts in earnest.

Spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters that Chancellor Merkel will host Gonzi for a working lunch at her office, to discuss "European affairs".

Items on the agenda are said to include the continuation of negotiations on the European Union's financial framework for 2014-2021, and the succession for Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the eurozone.

Possible successors include German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble.

While Labour's internet organ maltastar.com has claimed that the OPM is seeking photo opportunities for Gonzi with US president Barack Obama and even Pope Benedict XVI, Gonzi's meeting with Merkel will surely give the prime minister a boost to his 'statesman image' as he prepares to drive home the message that he is best suited to steward the Maltese economy through difficult financial times.

Meanwhile, Merkel will also meet Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Berlin on Tuesday.

Samaras will be attending an economic conference in the Germa capital that day and it is "only natural that we would take the opportunity to discuss the progress that Greece is making in its reform efforts," Seibert said.

He gave no further details about the substance of the informal meeting. Asked whether the two leaders would discuss Cyprus, Seibert said only that no issue is ruled out.

Also on Wednesday, soon after her meeting with the Maltese Prime Minister, Merkel is to host Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus.

 

 

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  • 11 Comments
Posted by: Vincente Destra — 06/01/2013 00:05:29
Two level headed leaders, capable of leading properly in times of world turmoil. Long live the Right! Viva Malta Libera fl-Unjoni Ewropea!mela tan-nanniet gharab. Il-Liberta` l-ewwel u qabel kollox.Viva Malta Libera! Viva l-Lemin!
Posted by: Thorny — 04/01/2013 16:57:19
For a going away present..... or maybe a job offer?
Posted by: OREA — 04/01/2013 15:42:21
How undiplomatic on the part of the German Chancellor to host a caretaker Prime Minister in the middle of an electoral campaign.
Posted by: mica — 04/01/2013 15:24:39
sur gonzipn meta tkun quddiema imissek tghidila li 3 kwarti tal poplu malti l anqas bis jistaw isahhnu darhom la bl eletriku la bil gas u wisq inqas bil pitrolju.sahha u halli min jarak mil l inqas
Posted by: g xerri — 04/01/2013 13:28:47
mela dan il buffon majkunx spicca fis 7 ta jannar, kif sejjer jirrapresenta lil poplu malti.
Posted by: Kris — 04/01/2013 13:22:00
How nice. Shall we call them "Partners in Distress"
Posted by: furjaniz — 04/01/2013 13:03:14
L-ahhar holiday min fuq dahar il-poplu.
Posted by: spionkop — 04/01/2013 12:42:35
How nice. They make a lovely couple. It tnejn jarmu l ghaks
Posted by: franco — 04/01/2013 12:30:07
Goodbye Angela Merkel, within 6 months you will be out of office.
Posted by: Xifajk — 04/01/2013 12:24:49
I hope Lawrence Gonzi will tell, US president Barack Obama, Pope Benedict XVI and Angela Merkel how he treated the maltese people in the "Divorce Issue", how he took 600 euros per week behind the Maltese people's back and gave the Maltese worker just 1.16 euros per week while telling us that he can see cblack clouds on the horizin. How he discriminated against Labour Supporters, how some of his followers treated workers like me with frame ups and humiliation depriving us of our dignity. How corrupt this piece of rock is and how he managed to increase poverty in this country and how amany people can't make ends meet while those in the inner circle are getting well off by the hour.
Posted by: jesmond — 04/01/2013 12:14:52
zgur mhux f isem il poplu sejjer.