Germany's Angela Merkel at joint session of Congress thanks the USA for freedom. ?To sum it up in one sentence,? Merkel stated, ?We Germans know, how much we owe you, our American friends. We as a nation, and I personally, will never forget that.? Several standing ovations greeted Merkel?s remarks. "Addressing Transatlantic relations, Merkel admitted that while America and Europe have had their share of disagreements, ?I am deeply convinced that there is no better partner for Europe than America and no better partner for America than Europe.? She stressed that what united Europe and America is not simply shared history or shared interests, ?but a common basis of shared values. It is a common idea of the individual and his inviolable dignity. It is a common understanding of freedom in responsibility.? Merkel added, ?This basis of values was what ended the Cold War.?"
