Angela Merkel

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FILE - In this March 18, 2014 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a press conference at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, is downplaying prospects of resolving tensions over U.S. surveillance when the German leader visits Washington next week _ a trip during which the Ukraine crisis and trans-Atlantic economic ties will be key issues. Seibert, noted Friday, April 25, 2014, that the chancellor has said the issue of NSA surveillance can’t be resolved with one visit and so “concrete results in this area can’t be expected” from the Washington trip. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)