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              Germany's Merkel Reminds Japan to Face Wartime Past

   by Reuters

   German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during her visit to Japan on
   Monday that Russia's actions in Eastern Ukraine are jeopardizing the
   free world order but said diplomacy could still resolve the situation.

   "But this free world order is anything but a matter of course, rather
   it is in jeopardy. Through the annexation of Crimea in violation of
   international law and the support of the separatists in eastern
   Ukraine, Russia violates the territorial integrity of Ukraine," she
   said.

   "And I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Japanese
   government for standing up for this position together with us just as
   we have adopted as a necessary response economic sanctions together but
   we also pin our hopes on a diplomatic solution," Merkel added.

   Speaking to a gathering at the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Merkel reminded
   Japan on Monday of the need to squarely confront its wartime past but
   said reconciliation would need to come from them and likely not outside
   advice.

   "It's difficult for me as a German Chancellor to give you advice for
   how to deal with partners in your neighborhood and I think that this
   has to come out of a process in the society. History tells us and
   teaches us that when you get advice from the outside it may even be
   more difficult to adopt the right course," Merkel said when asked about
   ties between Japan and its neighbors.

   The reminder comes as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to issue a
   statement to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War
   II, the legacy of which still plagues Tokyo's ties with China and South
   Korea.

   The statement by Abe will be closely watched by Beijing and Seoul,
   which suffered under Japanese militarism, as well as Tokyo's close
   ally, Washington.
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   ace-wartime-past/2672788.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-germany-merkel-reminds-japan-to-face-wartime-past/2672788.html