Belong purportedly to certain groups say, "We are the people and not the others." That is something that we cannot allow to happen. That is something that I think at the time in the GDR - at the time when we had this in the GDR, where the people stood in the street and said, "We are the people," that is something that filled me with great joy.

Let me say this on a personal note. Without the United States of America, I would in all probably not be able to stand here before you today.

We feel bound to the Christian image of humanity - that is what defines us. Those who do not accept this are in the wrong place here.

The land of unlimited opportunity was for me, for a long time, impossible to reach. The wall, barbed wire and the order to shoot at those who tried to leave limited my access to the free world.

I am courageous at the decisive moment. But I need a good deal of start-up time, and I try to take as much as possible into consideration beforehand.

A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.

We need trust among allies and partners. Such trust now has to be built anew.