Germany: 'Appalling' Amazon emergency 'has to be' on G7 agenda - FM spox.

W/S German government press conference, Berlin
SOT, Steffen Seibert, Government spokesperson (German): "The scale of the Amazon fires is appalling and a threat not only for Brazil and the other affected countries but for the entire planet because the Amazon rainforest is of significant importance for the global ecosystem and bio diversity. And this is why it is not an exaggeration to call it the 'lungs of the planet'. And when the G7 convenes this week - and this is also the chancellor's strong conviction - this emergency situation has to be on the agenda. The French president has the Federal Chancellor on his side very clearly regarding this issue."
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SOT, Rainer Breul, Foreign Ministry spokesperson (German): "The humanitarian situation in Idlib has been jeopardised in recent weeks, which we are observing with great concern. Just between May 1st and August 18, around 590,000 people were displaced or re-displaced within the zone of escalation. Also we are observing the growing tensions between Turkey and the Syrian regime with great concern. The situation on the ground is very complex and again it's civilians that have to bear the grave consequences. And it is true that projects that we have been supporting - not exclusively those supported by us, I want to highlight that - have been hit. In particular a hospital was affected by two different attacks, four ambulances, and 12 White Helmet centres which were hit by targeted air strikes causing several casualties - both employees of the partners that were supported by Foreign Ministry as well as civilians."
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, Government spokesperson (German): "The [EU] Commission as the leading negotiator on behalf of the EU 27 is open for further talks. The UK wants to provide suggestions in Brussels and we have to wait for that and the ball is in the Brits' court."
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W/S Press conference
SCRIPT
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Steffen Seibert said that the the fires wreaking havoc in the Amazon rainforest are 'appalling' and 'a threat' to the entire planet at a federal press conference in Berlin on Friday.
"It is not an exaggeration to call it the 'lungs of the planet'. And when the G7 convenes this week - and this is also the chancellor's strong conviction - this emergency situation has to be on the agenda," he said.
Commenting on the humanitarian situation in Idlib spokesperson Rainer Breul said: "Just between May 1st and August 18, around 590,000 people were displaced or re-displaced within the zone of escalation" adding that the German government is looking with 'great concern' at growing tensions between Turkey and Syria.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's stance on Brexit negotiations was reiterated by Seibert who said that the EU commission is open for further talks and is awaiting further solutions on the Irish backstop issue from the UK.