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Chancellor Angela Merkel with US President Joe Biden in the White House in Washington
Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Joe Biden has paid tribute to Angela Merkel's (CDU) chancellorship.
These have a "historical character," said Biden on Thursday at a joint press conference with Merkel in Washington.
She is the first female Chancellor in Germany and the first from the former GDR.
Merkel had done "groundbreaking services" for Germany and the world.
The Chancellor always stood up for what was right and defended human dignity.
“I know that the partnership between Germany and the United States will grow even stronger on the foundation that you helped to build,” Biden continued.
"But personally I have to tell you that I will miss you at our summit meetings, I really will."
Merkel is the first head of government from Europe to have welcomed Biden to the White House since he took office on January 20.
Merkel had arrived in Washington the day before on her farewell visit.
The visit is intended to mark the new beginning of German-American relations after a low point in the era of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.
Disagreement over Nord Stream 2
Biden has warned Russia against using its energy resources as a "weapon" or leverage against its neighbors such as Ukraine.
Biden said he had again expressed his concerns to Merkel about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The US and Germany agree to support Ukraine in reforms and with regard to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Biden at a joint press conference in the White House.
"Good friends don't have to agree," adds Biden.
The almost completed pipeline is to bring natural gas from Russia directly to Germany.
Merkel emphasized that Nord Stream 2 is an additional project and not an alternative to gas transit through Ukraine.
“Our understanding was and is and will remain that Ukraine remains a transit country for natural gas”.
mjm / dpa