(Vatican Radio) American President Barack Obama has urged Europe and the United States to be more welcoming towards migrants fleeing war and poverty, praising Germany's decision to accommodate more than a million refugees last year alone.Obama was speaking in the German city of Hanover where he concluded a European tour by meeting with the leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy. He also announced the deployment of hundreds of American special forces in Syria to assist local troops in tackling so called Islamic State militants.Listen to our report by Stefan Bos: Speaking at the opening of a trade show in Hanover, Obama reached out to German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has faced criticism over the way she handled Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War Two.While Hungary and other countries began building fences to halt them back, Germany registered a record 1.1 million asylum seekers last year, mostly from war torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. &nbs...
(Vatican Radio) American President Barack Obama has urged Europe and the United States to be more welcoming towards migrants fleeing war and poverty, praising Germany's decision to accommodate more than a million refugees last year alone.
Obama was speaking in the German city of Hanover where he concluded a European tour by meeting with the leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy. He also announced the deployment of hundreds of American special forces in Syria to assist local troops in tackling so called Islamic State militants.
Listen to our report by Stefan Bos:
Speaking at the opening of a trade show in Hanover, Obama reached out to German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has faced criticism over the way she handled Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War Two.
While Hungary and other countries began building fences to halt them back, Germany registered a record 1.1 million asylum seekers last year, mostly from war torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Standing next to a visible moved Merkel, President Obama praised her reaction to the many people seeking shelter. "She is on the right side of history on this," he said. "In this globalized world, it is very difficult for us to simply build walls. She is giving voice to the kind of principles that bring people together rather than divide them. I am very proud at her and very proud at the German people."
REFUGEES "NEED HELP"
In separate remarks he said Europe and the U.S. are more secure when welcoming people of all backgrounds and religions, including Muslims. He added: "we can't turn our backs on fellow human beings who are here now and need our help now."
Yet while Obama was still in Germany, Austria already announced additional border controls to halt potential migrants arriving illegally from Hungary, while Poland said it would send 120 border guards to help Greece protect the European Union borders.
Obama also said that when it comes to demonizing minorities, loud voices get attention.
But the president made clear that Europe and the NATO military should tackle Islamic extremism and do more to stop Islamic State militants.
SPECIAL FORCES
Obama said he had already approved a plan to send up to 250 mainly special forces to Syria to help fight local forces against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL. “Just as I have approved additional support for Iraqi forces against ISIL, I've decided to increase U.S. support for local forces fighting ISIL in Syria,” he explained.
“A small number of U.S. special operations forces are already on the ground in Syria,” Obama added. “Their expertise has been critical as local forces have been driving ISIL out of key areas."
The deployment will bring the number of American military personnel in Syria to roughly 300, up from 50 now.
Obama said he would use Monday's meeting with French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the British and Italian prime ministers, David Cameron and Matteo Renzi, to ask them to step up their military training and airstrike contributions in the campaign against the Islamic State group. He also wants them to provide more economic aid to rebuild parts of Iraq recaptured from the militants.
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