Turkey and Germany: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu calls for unconditional normalization of relations

The Turkish Foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, does not want to accept any conditions for normalization of diplomatic relations between Germany and Turkey. After a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas (SPD) in Ankara, Çavuşoğlu said: “In normalization re can be no conditions and no haggling.”

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However, Maas had made it clear before his trip to Turkey that he saw release of seven German citizens detained for political reasons in Turkey as a basic condition for rapprochement. The detentions do not consider Germany to be comprehensible.

However, during a press conference after ministerial meeting, Maas did not confirm that release was a concrete condition for normalization. He talked to Çavuşoğlu about cases and agreed “that we keep in touch. And that will also be sensible and necessary, “said German Foreign minister.

“Turkey is far more than a neighbor”

Maas continued to say about relationship between two states: “It is no secret that re have been many irritations in German-Turkish relationship in recent years. We talked about this in all openness. ” There was “a lot of work to be done”. The two countries, however, are strategically interested in shaping “relations constructively”, says Maas. For Germany, Turkey is “far more than a neighbour”.

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In addition to diplomatic relations between two countries, Maas and Çavuşoğlu also discussed deployment in Syrian war and dealing with Syrian refugees. The politicians agreed that a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Syrian province of Idlib had to be prevented. The Turkish chief diplomat called for better cooperation with Germany and EU on issue of refugees, and he described previous cooperation as “inadequate”. The Syrian government is planning an attack on Idlib, last rebel stronghold in country. There are about three million civilians living re. It is to be expected that in event of an attack, millions of people could flee towards Turkey.

More than three million Syrian refugees are currently staying in Turkey. It is not clear how country should provide anor two million refugees, said Çavuşoğlu. This question is not only a matter for Turkey, but for world. On Friday, a Syria summit with Iran and Russia, organised by Turkey, will take place. Turkey has been feverishly trying to stop offensive for weeks.

After meeting with Çavuşoğlu, Maas also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to German delegation, it was a “good conversation in a constructive and open atmosphere”. Maas’s journey is first of a series of mutual visits by both governments. On September 21st, finance ministers meet in Berlin, President Erdoğan arrives on 28th and 29th September for state visit to Germany, and in October Economic Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) will travel to Turkey with an economic delegation.