Merkel, Hollande hold anniversary talks with euro on agenda

DHAKA: The leaders of France and Germany meet Saturday to mark a seminal 1962 speech by Charles de Gaulle, with the euro crisis and a proposed European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS) and British Aerospace (BAE) merger also on the agenda.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said the meeting in the south-western city of Ludwigsburg, where De Gaulle addressed German youth in a key gesture of post-war reconciliation, was to be largely ceremonial.

But a few hot topics will nevertheless figure on the menu.

‘The issue of EADS and BAE will certainly be addressed at the working lunch with President (Francois) Hollande,’ the spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told reporters on Friday, referring to the mooted tie-up.

The Straits Times publishes the report Saturday.

BDST: 1143 HRS, SEP 22, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor