34 minutes agoMerkel reveals issues to discuss with Erdogan
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Chancellor Angela Merkel said on the eve of talks with President Tayip Erdogan that Germany wants to work with Turkey economically, but added that it would also raise sensitive human rights issues and German prisoners in Istanbul. Relations between the two countries have been very tense in recent months and [...]
Relations between the two countries have been strained much over the past few months, and Turkey has been shaken by the economic crisis, with Erdogan looking “eager to use his three-day visit to rebuild trade ties with Germany.
During a discussion with the media Thursday evening, Merkel ruled out direct assistance to Ankara, but stressed that the two countries must work together economically and will certainly reach some agreements these three days.
The German Chancellor said she would address both the human rights situation and the fate of German prisoners in Turkey during her talks with Erdogan, scheduled to be held today and tomorrow.
“The human rights situation is not how I would like to see it, Merkel said, adding that she remains concerned about the Germans who are kept arrested by Turkey.
In an Erdogan article published by the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine as he began his three-day visit, the Turkish leader urged Berlin to appoint the group he blames for a coup effort in 2016 as a terrorist organisation.
Germany has so far said it needs more evidence to link the movement of Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen, who lives in the United States, with an effort to overthrow Erdogan.
