“Many stories began at this train station,” says Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It is a symbol of the departure into the unknown – at the end of the journey there was “homesickness, deprivation and exertion”.
The Federal President came to Turkey on Monday for a three-day visit. And his program begins demonstratively at Istanbul’s Sirkeci train station. It was not only the final stop of the legendary Orient Express, but also the starting point for hundreds of thousands of so-called guest workers on their way to Germany. With his visit, Steinmeier wanted to “express his appreciation for the life stories and life achievements of the millions of people of Turkish origin in Germany,” his office had already explained in advance. That’s why Steinmeier is now in the historic train station and giving a speech – in a restaurant called “Orient Express”, by the way.
His predecessor had angered the host
The Federal President’s entourage includes not only Bundestag Vice President Aydan Özoğuz (SPD), CDU MP Serap Güler and the Mayor of Hanover, Belit Onay (Greens). Steinmeier is also accompanied by the writer Dinçer Güçyeter, the actor Adnan Maral (“Turkish for Beginners”) and the Berlin kebab shop operator Arif Keles. Keles brought a flash-frozen kebab skewer with him to Turkey on the presidential plane. He wants to serve it at a reception in the German ambassador’s historic summer residence on the banks of the Bosporus.
At home in Germany, Steinmeier has had a difficult week. Last Wednesday he presented the first book he wrote during his term of office at Bellevue Palace. It is entitled “We” and is about “cohesion and the courage to act”. The book was important to the Federal President and you could tell he was proud of it. But then came the reviews – they were devastating across the press.
The coming days are also likely to be difficult for Steinmeier. It has been ten years since a federal president last visited Turkey. Joachim Gauck caused a sensation back then. Because he didn’t just stick with diplomatic phrases, but rather complained about Turkey’s deficits in the rule of law and freedom of expression in an unusually clear manner.
The Turkish Prime Minister at the time was the current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. And he reacted violently. Erdoğan complained that Gauck had interfered in Turkey’s internal affairs. That was “not appropriate for a statesman.”
Erdoğan sides with Hamas
Steinmeier will meet Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday. Turkey is an important partner for Germany in NATO and the G20. But there are also significant differences – for example in the assessment of the Islamist Hamas or the war in the Gaza Strip. He once again showed which side Erdoğan is on last weekend – with the reception of Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Hanija in Istanbul. However, Erdoğan has accused the Israeli government of having “outdone Hitler” with the war in Gaza.
It will therefore be interesting to see how Steinmeier will behave when he meets Erdoğan. Several members of the Bundestag have already called on the Federal President to speak plainly. However, this is not Steinmeier’s greatest strength. The long-time foreign minister remained a cautious diplomat at Bellevue Palace.
Last November, the Federal President received Erdoğan in Berlin. The President’s Office then announced that “due to recent statements from Turkey on the Middle East conflict,” Steinmeier had “strongly made the German position clear.” For Steinmeier’s standards, that was plain language. But he also has reasons for his reluctance.
Meeting a beacon of hope
Turkey has already been an important partner in limiting the number of refugees. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the escalation in the Middle East have further strengthened its importance. Ankara is needed to support Ukraine. And it is hoped that Erdoğan will not fuel the war in the Middle East, but may even be able to help as a mediator.
On Monday, at Sirkeci train station, the Federal President will first meet Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. In the local elections at the end of March, İmamoğlu was able to confidently defend his office, and since then he has been considered Erdoğan’s most important opponent. İmamoğlu is a member of the Kemalist CHP; the party surprisingly relegated Erdoğan’s AKP to second place at the end of March, thereby raising many hopes.
This Tuesday Steinmeier, who is also accompanied by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner, is flying from Istanbul to Gaziantep. The city is located in the region that was severely shaken by earthquakes last year. More than 50,000 people were killed, and several thousand people died in neighboring Syria. Steinmeier wants to visit a camp for earthquake victims and visit a school that Germany supported. On Tuesday evening we continue to Ankara for the most important date of the trip: the meeting with Erdoğan.