Steinmeier leaves Foreign Ministry of Germany


01/27/2017

Frank-Walter Steinmeier has resigned from his post as head of the German Foreign Ministry. Sigmar Gabriel, former Economy Minister and vice-chancellor of Germany was appointed his successor.



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Steinmeier has headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany for seven years. He left the post in connection with his intention to participate in presidential elections. German President Joachim Gauck thanked Steinmeier for his work.

In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung on the eve of retirement, Steinmeier said that the presidential campaign in the United States "turned his blood cold".

"I've never seen such an election as in the US last year - he said. – Never could I imagine that Presidents of France and China would have to explain to his American counterpart benefits of an open world and free world trade."

Former German Foreign Minister expressed hope that Donald Trump "will change after taking the office".

New German Foreign Minister will officially visit the United States next week, according to newspaper Handelsblatt citing sources in the German government.

Sigmar Gabriel intends to visit Washington and New York. In Washington, he will meet with US Vice President Mike Pence and candidate for the post of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Later, Gabriel will visit France, where he will have a talk with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

In November last year, Steinmeier said that Europe was in "severe turbulence" and the European Union as a single structure could disintegrate if the current scenario continues.

"The financial crisis, influx of refugees in Europe and shock of results of the referendum in Britain have pushed Europe into a zone of severe turbulence. Ideas of eternal peace on the continent have now lost their former credibility. Even the most dedicated supporters of the [single] Europe see that we have again convince people in the streets, not from the EU offices of professional supporters. If we fail to appreciate the European Union, it will die."

source: sueddeutsche.de