The [Barack Obama] administration is sharing its knowledge, its expertise with the incoming administration. And this, to us, is a sign of encouragement, to continue the good cooperation that we have built between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany that is in our mutual interest.

Particularly from a German perspective, from a European perspective, I can only say again, Russia is our neighbor.

To be serious, if we were only interested in earning big money then a politician would have to go and work in industry.

The full veil is not appropriate for Germans, and should be banned wherever legally possible.

I don't carry any early childhood trauma around with me, if that's what you're hinting at. The story of the bicycles - and there were three of them which were stolen from me - I've dealt with it well.

When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.

I believe that we will move forward a little tomorrow but I have my doubts that we will achieve a result.