diplomacy
Government: Erdogan’s visit will be challenging
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is coming to Germany on Friday. photo
© -/Turkish Presidency/dpa
Turkish President Erdogan is expected in Berlin on Friday. Given his anti-Israel stance, a “difficult partner,” as the government spokesman put it.
The federal government is supporting the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan despite his anti-Israel stance. The current planning will remain the same, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin at the federal press conference. “We always have difficult partners that we have to deal with.” The German position towards Israel is rock solid. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will also “make this very clear” in a conversation with the Turkish President.
Erdogan is coming to Berlin this Friday. In addition to the Chancellor, he will meet with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. After the terrorist attack on Israel that left around 1,200 dead, Erdogan called the Islamist Hamas “a liberation organization.” In his own words, he broke off contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In light of Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, Erdogan spoke of “fascism.”
Turkey is an important factor on a whole range of issues, said Hebestreit. It’s about making progress on these issues. Under the current circumstances, the visit will also be “challenging”.
Green Party leader Lang expects clear words from Scholz
The Green Party leader Ricarda Lang demanded clear announcements for Erdogan’s visit to Germany. It is important to maintain diplomatic channels and to remain in conversation, also in order to advocate for the interests and security of Israel, said Lang in Berlin. “And at the same time, over the weekend we experienced abhorrent words from Erdogan to Israel and also a relativization of Hamas’ terror.” In view of Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, Erdogan recently spoke of “fascism”.
“I expect very clear words from Olaf Scholz and also from the Federal President regarding these obnoxious omissions from Erdogan,” emphasized Lang, referring to the Chancellor and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “Very clear words that make it clear to us: Israel’s right to exist is non-negotiable.”
CSU demands plain language from Scholz
According to CSU leader Markus Söder, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) must negotiate a new agreement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip to reduce the number of refugees. “We expect the Chancellor to provide clear language during the Turkish President’s upcoming visit, clear language on the matter, but also clear results,” said the Bavarian Prime Minister after the CSU board meeting in Munich. Scholz also had to speak to Erdogan on Friday about his statements about Hamas’ role in the war with Israel.
“A new Turkey deal is needed, but not simply at any price, but also with a clear commitment to the positions that are important to us,” emphasized Söder.
Germany, NATO and the EU need Turkey to control immigration to Europe. The conversation between Scholz and Erdogan will include, among other things, reviving the EU-Turkey agreement on the accommodation of refugees in Turkey. Conversely, the federal government must also keep the promises that Germany has made so far, said Söder.
“Erdogan must not be a normal state guest for Germany”
The Left sharply criticizes the planned visit. Erdogan has “a history of supporting terrorism” in Syria and the Middle East and suppresses the democratic opposition at home, said party leader Martin Schirdewan. This is not a partner for a credible German foreign policy. “Erdogan must not be a normal state guest for Germany.” There are fears that the federal government will make new “dirty deals” with the Turkish president.