News Xchange Keynote Speech by German Minister of Defence available on EBU.ch
29 October 2015
Germany's Federal Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen delivered a special keynote speech at the 2015 News Xchange in Berlin.
Elmar Thevessen, Deputy Editor in Chief for EBU's German Member ZDF, who are host broadcasting the event, welcomed the minister to the stage.
She began by saying how timely it was to have such an event take place in Berlin on the 70th anniversary of the the end of World War II and the 25th anniversary of the reunification.
Ms von der Leyen then went on to elaborate how news media have played a crucial role in creating a "an open-minded, democratic society", and how they would have to continue to help public understanding of the current migrant and refugee crisis.
She explained it would be difficult for European governments to live up to the high standards they have set, especially in times of crisis, but that " indifference can not be an option, that our understanding of leadership is to do the utmost possible to constantly convince our partners that we can find a common way to go together, be it by big visible steps or by small ones."
The full speech is available here .
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