Merkel: a year of severe trials

berlin - 'A year of severe trials,' as typified German Chancellor Angela Merkel last year in her New Year's message.

Yet Merkel Friday showed himself confident about the resilience of the German people. 'As we continue with our lives and activities, we say to the terrorists: 'You are hate-filled murderers, but do not determine how we live and want to live. We are free, partly human, open. '

They called it 'sickening' that people who came to Germany to seek protection then commit terrorist acts, referring to the attack by Anis Amri. Tunisian asylum seeker drove on December 19 with a stolen truck on a Christmas market in Berlin. When the attack eleven people died.

Merkel also implicitly addressed the criticism that befell her in the past year because of its generous refugee policy. According to her the images of the bombed Aleppo once again the 'good and important it is that our country also offered last year protection to those who truly need our protection. '

Furthermore, the Chancellor expressed her support for the European Union. Merkel acknowledged that 'slow and cumbersome' and should focus on tasks that it can do better than a national state. However, she warned her fellow countrymen to 'the idea that a happy future is ever possible if we just continue as a country. '

Merkel, who aspires to a fourth term as chancellor and hopes to win the Bundestag elections next year, closed her speech with the message that there must also be done in 2017 to ensure solidarity, openness, democracy and a strong economy.