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Germany, Russia, Syria and the USA

Steve Evans explores the ambivalence of German attitudes towards Russia; Olivia Crellin meets the Syrian refugees struggling to stay rooted while adjusting to life in New York

Two stories of ambivalent attitudes - towards neighbouring countries or towards your own. In Berlin, Steve Evans explores the very mixed feelings in Germany about Russia's international role and its recent actions in Ukraine. In 1945 east Germany was "liberated - and then subjugated" by Soviet forces, and despite that experience - or perhaps even because of it - the country still maintains close business links with Russian enterprises. But what does all that mean for EU condemnation of Moscow's policies on Ukraine today ... can Germany really sing along with the chorus of disapproval - and does it even want to? In New York City, Olivia Crellin meets three refugees who are part of the millions-strong exodus of Syrians around the world . They're grateful to have found a place of safety - but they can't help feeling the pull of home, even as the conflict continues to ravage it.

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Polly Hope

Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel shake hands during an official welcome of at the G20 summit on September 5, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Ramil Sitdikov/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images)

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11 minutes

Last on

Thu 17 Apr 2014 19:50GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 17 Apr 2014 19:50GMT