George and Amal Clooney meet with Angela Merkel to discuss 'global problem' of Syria
GEORGE Clooney and his wife discussed the "global problem" of Syria and the migrant crisis during a private meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel.
George and Amal Clooney have met with Angela Merkel to discuss the migrant crisis
The actor and his human rights lawyer wife Amal were accompanied by former foreign secretary David Miliband, now head of the International Rescue Committee, in Berlin yesterday.
Mr Miliband said afterwards they had spent the 40-minute meeting discussing what measures different countries can take to solve what he described as "a global problem, not just a Syrian problem or a German issue".
He praised Merkel for showing "very strong leadership and example, not just to Europe but globally", during the migrant crisis.
The couple were in Berlin for the city's film festival
Mrs Merkel threw open Germany's doors to refugees last summer, but after about 1.1 million arrived in 2015, and with another million expected this year, opposition is growing within the country against the "open-door" policy.
Meanwhile, it was reported last month that more than 200 angry migrants in Germany are suing the government, claiming it is taking too long to process their asylum applications.
Germany has welcomed migrants with an 'open door' policy
Clooney had told reporters on Thursday he was to meet Mrs Merkel, and separately a group of asylum seekers, "to talk about and ask what messages and what things we can do... to help".
The actor and his wife, who were in Berlin for the city's Berlinale film festival, to promote George's new movie Hail Caesar, planned to visit a refugee shelter later yesterday.