Ardern and Merkel sing from same sheet
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emerged from talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, appearing to have strengthened her stance in support of military action in response to the chemical attacks in Syria.
Merkel welcomed Ardern with a full military ceremony to Berlin. The pair had an hour-long bilateral discussion focused on defence and security issues, as well as joint efforts to strengthen the multilateral rules-based system.
During a joint press conference afterwards, Merkel confirmed the pair did discuss Russia and recent chemical attacks, both in Salisbury and Syria.
‘‘And I believe that on the whole, we are one in sharing the same position,’’ she said.
Questioned by German media, Ardern appeared to give a subtle elevation to her own comments that United States-led air strikes on suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria were completely necessary.
It was an issue that ‘‘cannot be left unchallenged’’.
‘‘And so whilst we absolutely maintain the need to first and foremost seek resolution through the likes of the United Nations, when that is not possible we utterly accept the use of alternative means to address what has to be challenged, and that is a blatant breach of international law,’’ said Ardern. It was a slightly strengthened stance over the one she had taken with similar comments in New Zealand that appeared to more reluctantly accept the need for missile strikes.
But she has not bowed to Opposition suggestions that the New Zealand Government should have given its outright support.
‘‘Where New Zealand will always place emphasis is on a multilateral approach, is on utilising dialogue for deescalation, for seeking peaceful resolutions for some of the conflicts and questions raised in the international community.
‘‘Having said that, we have seen some explicit examples recently, where there has been a blatant breach of international law,’’ said Ardern.
Merkel said Germany shared the view that dialogue must remain open with Russia, both directly and through the UN.
And both leaders appeared to be on similar pages over Russia’s role in the recent gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma.
‘‘We also know against the background of the nerve agent gas attack in Syria, Russia as ally of Assad has a shared responsibility, no doubt about that,’’ said Merkel.
Ardern said New Zealand had always called on Russia to use its influence to hold the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to account.