By Ayhan Simsek </p> <p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – Syria will continue to be one of the key issues for Germany’s intelligence service BND, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday. </p> <p>Merkel said the Daesh terror group was diminished but not yet defeated at the opening ceremonies of BND headquarters in Berlin </p> <p>“It is rather conducting an asymmetric warfare, and remains a threat,” she stressed. </p> <p>Merkel criticized major powers for turning Syria into a scene of proxy wars. </p> <p>“Unfortunately we are still far away from peace in Syria nearly eight years after the outbreak of the conflict,” she said. </p> <p>Merkel stressed her government would continue its efforts for a political solution in Syria, and would rely on information obtained by BND about major actors and the situation on the ground. </p> <p> </p> <p>-Hybrid war </p> <p>The German Chancellor named “cyber threats” as another key issue for BND in the coming years. </p> <p>“Protecting our IT structures is becoming more and more important,” Merkel said, and added countering hybrid warfare and fake news would be decisive for Germany’s security in near future. </p> <p>BND’s new headquarters was officially opened Friday after 11 years of construction.
The government has spent more than €1 billion for the complex which houses nearly 4,000 personnel.
