WEBVTT

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I'm pleased to introduce
Slovenia's new Prime Minister.

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I congratulate you for being elected
to this office several weeks ago.

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I'm happy that we met early on.
We've seen each other at EU meetings

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and this will happen
many times again.

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I'm confident that
our cooperation will be fruitful,

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and that's only right.
We have difficult tasks ahead,

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and we can only solve them together,
bilaterally, and on the EU level.

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I'm glad that we have a partner
in the Slovenian government,

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one that shares
our common European values,

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and actively defends them.
This matters a great deal

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in light of Russia's brutal
aggression in Ukraine,

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a violation of human rights.
We're unanimous in the belief

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that we need to support
Ukraine politically,

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militarily, financially, with aid,
and with the sanctions

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we've introduced
against Russia.

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War also represents
great challenges

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that reach beyond
the battlefield.

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Because of Russia's blockade
of Ukrainian ports, we're already

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facing a major
global food crisis.

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That's why we're trying

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to export grain and fertilizers
from Ukraine.

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I'm grateful
to the UN Secretary-General

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for trying so hard
to accomplish this.

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We must do everything to reduce our
dependence on Russian energy

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sources, so we'll build
infrastructure,

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that will enable us to get
oil and gas from other sources.

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It's also important

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that we become self-reliant
using alternative energy sources.

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Both countries would like to invest
in wind and solar energy,

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and we discussed this at length.
We support European initiatives,

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but we also want to work together.
This is crucial for us

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to achieve progress.
Germany has a very ambitious plan

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to become a carbon-neutral
economy by 2045.

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We're also worried

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by the perspective and development
of the Western Balkans.

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In 2003, we promised six
countries of the Western Balkans

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that they had a realistic
chance of becoming

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EU members soon. Next year, 20 years
will have passed since then,

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and not much has happened
in the meantime.

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That's why we would
like do do everything

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to give the accession process
a boost,

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and admit these countries
to the EU soon.

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We've advocated for that in the EU
and we'll continue to do that.

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I'd like to increase Germany's
contribution to this effort

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and revive the Berlin Process,
which has been

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welcomed by this countries. This
will give the discussions a boost.

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Thank you again for the visit
and cooperation.

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Thank you to Chancellor Scholz
for the welcome.

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This really is my first
official trip abroad.

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It's not a coincidence
that we chose Berlin.

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Germany is our most important
foreign trade partner.

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And not only that.

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Since its recognition of our
independence 31 years ago, Germany

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has been our most important
friend and ally.

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Our conversations today
proved that.

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We have no unresolved
issues

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that would require
special attention.

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That's why our talks deal primarily
with how we can find solutions

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together in this changing world,
which is not always changing

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for the better. Our solutions
will help us deal with crises.

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The energy crisis is certainly

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topic number one, not just
in Germany, but throughout Europe.

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We agree that the EU

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is the best platform
for suitable solutions.

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No country, even one as powerful
as Germany, can respond

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to challenges as effectively alone
as it can as a part of a community.

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For small states like Slovenia, this
is even more logical and necessary.

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Finding solutions
as part of a community,

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not just in the area
of natural gas supply,

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but also other energy sources.

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We encourage
the exchange of opinions

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and an increase

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in North-South investment

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in gas pipelines
and electric interchanges,

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because only that we will complete
the green transition as Europe.

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We'll connect the northern wind
areas with the southern solar areas.

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This will enable us to create
a stable and united energy system.

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We've also discussed
the coming winter.

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Studies of European natural
gas operators indicate that we can

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weather the crisis together,
even if the Russian supply dries up.

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There are specific characteristics
of countries that we can exploit

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to make it through this winter

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with some necessary
limits on use.

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This is our common goal, which
is not just advocated by my friend

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Olaf and me,
but the EU as a whole.

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The issue is making it though
the winter without

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Russian gas and without enforced
supply limitations.

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It's an ambitious goal,
but it's doable,

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and I believe we will continue
to pay attention to this issue.

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Because Slovenia is the gateway
to the Western Balkans,

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we naturally have
our own opinion.

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When we supported the candidacies
of Ukraine and Moldova

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for EU membership,

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we immediately
encountered a dilemma.

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We have western Balkan countries
in the waiting room for 20 years.

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Our message
is that this is too long.

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We have to find a way
for these countries to experience

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steps forwards
and successes.

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Unfortunately, this process,
as carried out so far,

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has led to apathy in these
countries because it's far too slow.

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That's why we applaud
the Berlin Process,

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and we're happy that Germany
is leading this process,

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but at the same time, we're thinking
about how we could implement

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France's idea of a wider Europe
to move these countries closer

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to EU membership, a process
that will take a long time.

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The key is to find small
victories and successes

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with which we can reward
the countries

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that will take steps in the right
direction, toward the rule of law.

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We agreed that
there can be no exceptions here

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and that these steps
need to be taken ahead of time

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not after the country
has become a EU member.

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I'm grateful
for this reception.

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We'll continue
with talks later on,

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but I think our foundations
are strong and I trust

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that we'll be able to build on that
in the months ahead. Thank you.

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Seku Conde, RTV Slovenia.

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Mr. Chancellor, did you talk
about Boxer tanks today

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and what was said
during the discussion?

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And a question
for the Prime Minister.

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How far has the internal review
gotten and how does this issue

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affect the purchase of eight-wheel
trucks? Thank you.

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We
briefly talked about this as well.

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In your follow-up question,
you mentioned that this

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this is an advisory process
by the newly elected government,

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so there's a full understanding on
our part. We'll move ahead together.

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We've also
talked about that.

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We touched upon

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our joint position
on arms transfers to Ukraine,

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but the ongoing review
wasn't...

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We don't expect that review
to complicate our relations.

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In part that's because
we're examining several options.

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If the review shows that
the purchase wasn't suitable,

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there are several ways
for us to get out of this situation.

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It's not just one option;
there are several.

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Time will tell, and the public
will learn about it.

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Mr. Chancellor, regarding
the supply of gas:

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The Commission has warned that EU
members could repeat the mistake

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from the Covid pandemic and respond
from a purely national perspective.

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How will you ensure solidarity
among countries,

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not just in respect to
small EU members?

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What will you do to prevent
the issue from causing a rift?

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And a question about
the circular exchange.

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Critics are saying that the process
is taking too long.

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Do you agree with this
and do you support

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direct arms transfers
to Ukraine?

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We must
show solidarity.

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We've committed ourselves
to that.

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Germany will act appropriately.
I'm confident that we will succeed.

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I'll tie my response to that.
This point was also highlighted.

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Yes, there is a strong
desire for

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both bilateral solidarity
pacts regarding gas supplies

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and other issues.
I think the European Commission

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will tell us more
about this in October.

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Regarding the circular
or joint deliveries:

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It's taking a long time because
we've had a change of governments.

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We've now begun to tackle
this more decisively

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and Slovenia has already sent
a shipment of armored transport

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vehicles to Ukraine. Such talks
aren't a taboo for us these days.

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On the contrary, I believe
we will be able to speed them up.