Berlin (dpa) - The most important issue confronting Germany in 2016 is the nation‘s "solidarity" in dealing with the refugee crisis, Chancellor Angela Merkel will say in her New Year‘s address to the nation on Thursday."It is important that we not let ourselves be divided - not among generations, and not among those who have been here a long time and those who are new citizens," says Merkel, according to an advance copy of her speech.The chancellor asks that people not follow "those with coldness or even hate in the hearts, and claim the right to be called German for themselves alone while seeking to exclude others."Merkel does not mention Pegida, the anti-Islam political movement that has drawn tens of thousands to the streets of Germany in mass rallies over the past year.As the country faces an unprecedented influx of migrants - mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia and Kosovo - there have also been several attacks on asylum shelters.About 1 million refugees were expected to be registered in Germany in 2015."This is a particularly challenging time in which we live," Merkel says."But it is also true: We can do it, because Germany is a strong country," she continues, pointing out the nation‘s past success in dealing with the turmoil of reunification 25 years ago and its ability to integrate newcomers into German society.
