Britain, Germany united on Gaza, Russian gas row

Jan 15, 2009, 13:30 GMT

Berlin - The leaders of Germany and Britain called for urgent action Thursday to end the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Gordon Brown said they would support moves designed to stop the flow of arms to Gaza and ease the humanitarian situation there.

The British prime minister met with the German chancellor in Berlin to discuss the Middle East crisis, the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine as well as measures to tackle the economic crisis, ahead of April's G20 meeting in London.

Responding to Merkel's opening words on the Middle East, Brown said, 'We too are shocked at the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and will do everything that we can to help with humanitarian aid.'

The leaders also promised to provide technical assistance to shore up security along Gaza's borders.

The prime minister said mediators would work 'night and day' to obtain a lasting ceasefire in the region.

The two leaders called on Ukraine and Russia to resolve their political differences so that gas supplies could be resumed to Europe.

Calling the gas conflict a 'serious development,' Merkel said Russia risked losing some of its credibility in Europe if supplies continued to dry up.

The chancellor said she would talk with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin 'about the need to create trust' during his visit to Germany scheduled for Friday.

The leaders also stressed the need for the European Union to reduce its dependency on gas.

Brown said recent events 'have re-emphasized to the world the need to diversify energy supplies.'

As well as providing energy security, he said this could help prevent climate change and ensure the affordability of energy in the future.

Speaking on the current economic crisis, the leaders agreed that, in Brown's words, 'We must secure the widest possible transparency and the necessary renewal of trust in the banking system.'

Of the economic stimulus packages agreed in Germany and Britain, the prime minister said, 'Where you have a banking failure, governments must step in.'

Both Merkel and Brown pledged to work closely with the incoming US administration of president-elect Barack Obama in order to help the world overcome the current economic crisis.

Merkel said, 'An international crisis can only be fought internationally.'

However the chancellor added, 'The European Union can play a very confident role.'

Merkel said she had invited representatives of the European Union to Berlin for mid-to-late February to discuss preparations for the next Group of 20 summit in London on April 2.

The G20, a forum for cooperation and consultation on matters relating to the international financial system, held its first summit in November 2008 in Washington.