Meeting with Erdogan: Merkel for the continuation of the refugee deal

At her meeting with Turkish President Erdogan, Chancellor Merkel spoke out in favor of continuing the refugee agreement. She also criticized the imprisonment of German citizens on charges of terrorism.

During her visit to Istanbul, Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out in favor of a continuation of the EU-Turkey agreement on managing migration in Europe. It is important that the EU continues to support Turkey “in the fight against illegal migration”, said the CDU politician after a farewell meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. It is likely Merkel’s last visit to Turkey as incumbent Chancellor after 16 years.

Merkel stressed that Turkey’s support on the refugee issue must be guaranteed “beyond what has already been decided”. Erdogan said Turkey is “hosting” refugees. “And that will remain so.”

“Turkey is doing extraordinary things”

The European Union and Turkey agreed on the EU-Turkey Declaration five years ago. This provides that Turkey takes action against unauthorized migration to the EU and Greece can send illegally arrived migrants back to the Aegean Islands. In return, the EU takes on a Syrian refugee from Turkey for every Syrian sent back and supports the country financially in caring for the refugees.

“Turkey is doing extraordinary things with regard to Syrian refugees,” said Merkel, who repeatedly emphasized the efforts to establish good relations between Germany and Turkey. The Chancellor regretted that, despite the leadership of the United Nations, things were not going well in Syria and that the situation in Idlib was still “very tense”.

Merkel calls for cooperation in dealing with the Taliban

Merkel also called on the Turkish President to cooperate in dealing with the radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan in order to prevent another refugee crisis. The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August after a campaign of conquest. Turkey – the only Muslim NATO country – is trying to get in touch with the new rulers and is negotiating with the Taliban to secure civilian operations at Kabul airport.

Both heads of state and government also discussed Libya at their meeting. Merkel campaigned for an early election in the North African country and for a “sustainable solution”.

Criticism of the imprisonment of German citizens

Merkel also addressed the situation of German citizens imprisoned in Turkey. “We sometimes have very different views on when the terrorism allegation applies,” she said. While the federal government was able to intervene successfully in some cases, new cases have always been added.

Some of the German citizens incarcerated in Turkey are in custody for supporting Kurdish movements, which Turkey classifies as “terrorist”. According to the Federal Foreign Office, the number of German prisoners in Turkey is in the “middle double-digit range”.

Germany wants to support Turkey with climate protection

The Chancellor also announced that Germany would support Turkey in implementing climate protection measures. “Germany wants to provide bilateral support,” said Merkel. One is still in talks. The news agency Reuters had previously reported that, according to insiders, a week after the ratification of the Paris Agreement, Turkey had received billions in loans for climate protection. According to this, 3.1 billion euros are to be provided by the World Bank, France and Germany, with Germany accounting for a little more than 200 million euros.

Merkel welcomed the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement by Turkey. Now all G20 states are signatory states. The Turkish government is still in talks about how to help with environmentally friendly technology.

Erdogan criticizes racism against German Turks

At the meeting with Merkel, Erdogan criticized racist and Islamophobic attacks on people of Turkish origin in Germany. The Chancellor promised that the German government would continue to act “very decisively” against all incidents of “misanthropy”.

The Turkish President also said that he hoped to be able to work well with the future federal government. Chancellor Merkel has always maintained a “sensible and solution-oriented approach,” said Erdogan. He hopes to be able to continue the cooperation. “I wish the new government and its Chancellor every success.”