German Chancellor calls for optimism in New Year's speech

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday called on the German people to be optimistic in the year ahead and to confront hatred with humanity and cohesion in her annual New Year's address.

"As we pursue our lives and work, we tell the terrorists that they are murderers full of hatred, but they do not determine how we want to live," said Merkel in her speech.

"It is particularly bitter and repulsive," she said, referring to the terror attacks in German cities of Wuerzburg, Ansbach and Berlin.

However, the pictures of the bombed-out Aleppo in Syria showed how important it was that Germany had also helped "the people who actually need our protection over the past year" to gain a foothold in Germany and to integrate, said the Chancellor.

The country would do its utmost to ensure its citizens' security in freedom, said Merkel.

"You will be stronger than terrorism, we are stronger together," she added.

Where political or legal changes are necessary for the security of the citizens, the German government will quickly initiate and implement the necessary measures, she assured. Enditem