Tue, 31 Mar, 2015 12:01:56 AM Merkel meets president, PM during visit to Helsinki Greece should meet expectations of European partners: Merkel FTimes – STT Report, Mar 31  German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the presidents of Finland, Sauli Niinistö at the President's official residence at Mäntyniemi in Helsinki on Monday. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva. The general security situation in the European Union was the key topic at the meeting held between President Sauli Niinistö and the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Niinistö’s official residence of Tamminiemi in Helsinki on Monday.
Niinistö asked Merkel how the European Union would react, if the territorial integrity of the region were to be breached.
“She gave a good answer to my basic question whether a peaceful union can watch helpless, if its territorial integrity is violated, for instance, in an area which does not happen to be a member of NATO,” said Niinistö.
The president revealed that the two leaders held a lengthy conversation regarding what kind of opportunities are there to enhance security in Europe.
The basis of discussion was not only focussed on Russia, but also the restlessness in North Africa and the Middle East.
Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press conference after holding a meeting in Helsinki on Monday. Photo – Lehtikuva. According to Niinistö, a discussion on whether, for instance, Germany would defend Finland in time of need, did not actually take place.
The German chancellor has played a key role in Ukraine peace negotiations and thus Merkel’s visit offered the Finnish leadership a chance to discuss the progress of resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
Niinistö revealed that their assessment of the crisis together with the German chancellor was that the situation in Ukraine remains very unstable.
“The Minsk agreement and the ceasefire have more or less worked,” said Niinistö, adding that the situation is still unstable and can be easily destabilised; however, it gives a good basis to build more.
On the issue of the Greek economic reform, Merkel emphasised that Greece must be able to meet the expectations of its European partners.
Greece risks running out of funds in the coming weeks, and no specific proposal has been received from the country on what it intends to do.
According to Merkel, discussions will be continued with Greece on its economic reform in good spirit.
“I look forward to the results of these negotiations,” Merkel told a joint press conference held with Prime Minister Alexander Stubb.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Helsinki to meet Prime Minister Alexander Stubb on Monday. Photo – Lehtikuva. Merkel stressed that the economic reform proposals tabled by Greece must be satisfactorily adaptable to the expectations of its European partners.
According to Merkel, the question is whether Greece will be able to meet them.
“In the end, the frameworks must match,” said the German chancellor.
She also stated that the action towards Greece does not depend on what opinion polls show.
The current state of negotiations has not come as a surprise to her, said the German chancellor, adding that the negotiations with Greece may take some time. It was not easy in similar situations with Portugal, Spain and Ireland.
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