Germany: Merkel talks Brexit, Turkey's Syria offensive in Bundestag address

M/S German Chancellor Angela Merkel approaching podium, Berlin
W/S Bundestag session
SOT, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (German): "There have been several moments during the past years, months and weeks when we thought we were close to a solution, and then matters have been frustrated again, which is why I cannot tell you today how tomorrow's European Union summit will end. But I can tell you that it is very clear that we will not allow that hate and violence can once again flare up on the island of Ireland. It is my position that the Good Friday agreement must not be put at risk by anyone [Audience clapping]"
W/S MPs clapping *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (German): "For two and a half years now we are in the process of intensely negotiating the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. There has been movement in the past few days, significant movement. The British side showed a willingness to negotiate and has backed this up with concrete proposals. We are therefore on a better path than before, but - and I have to be very clear about this this morning - we have not yet reached the finish line. And therefore we must and will do everything possible to successfully conclude these negotiations. I would like to cordially thank Michel Barnier who leads these negotiations (as the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator) and his team, who are part of this process literally day and night. It is also still the case that finding a good solution is the equivalent of squaring the circle."
W/S Merkel at podium *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (German): "The military operation of Turkey in Syria brings only new human suffering to the already very maltreated country. It claims many victims and forces tens of thousands, among them thousands of children, to flee. It is a humanitarian drama with big geopolitical consequences."
M/S Reporters in Bundestag *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (German): "Talking about geopolitical consequences we have to acknowledge that the role of Russia and Iran in the region has been strengthened after the US soldiers left. And we cannot yet measure the consequences of that today."
W/S Bundestag
SCRIPT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel touched upon a series of pressing issues in her address in the German Parliament in Berlin on Thursday.
Merkel acknowledged the progress made in the Brexit talks while stressing the importance of safeguarding the 'Good Friday' agreement to maintain peace in Northern Ireland.
"We will not allow that hate and violence can once again flare up on the island of Ireland," said Merkel.
Merkel also touched upon ongoing Turkey’s military offensive in northeastern Syria and saying, "The military operation of Turkey in Syria brings only new human suffering to the already very maltreated country."
"It claims many victims and forces tens of thousands, among them thousands of children, to flee," she added.
Merkel also cautioned against the strengthened position of Russia and Iran in the region in light of US forces' withdrawal saying, "We cannot yet measure the consequences of that today."
The address came as the EU and the UK announced they had finally struck a Brexit deal.