Visits by the Turkish president to Germany have never been easy in recent times. Now his downright anti-Israel attitude is making the talks more difficult. Expectations of the Chancellor are rising.
In view of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s anti-Israel stance, the federal government is preparing for difficult discussions during his visit next Friday. Under the current circumstances, the visit will also be “challenging,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin at the federal press conference. Turkey is an important factor on a whole range of issues. It’s about making progress on these issues. Therefore, the plans for the visit remain unchanged. “We always have difficult partners that we have to deal with.”
In addition to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Erdogan will also 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.”
German position “rock solid”
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil defended the visit. Scholz has the “full support” of the SPD “for this visit to take place,” said Klingbeil on Monday in Berlin. “There are many statements made by Erdogan in the last few days that I condemn in the strongest possible terms.” But it is important to talk to those who have international responsibility, even if you yourself have a different opinion.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit emphasized that the German position towards Israel was rock solid. The Chancellor will also “make this very clear” in his conversation with the Turkish President.
The Greens also called for this. Its chair Ricarda Lang said on Monday that it was important to maintain diplomatic channels and to remain in conversation, also in order to advocate for Israel’s interests and security. And at the same time, Erdogan used abhorrent words about Israel and relativized Hamas’ terror. “I expect very clear words from Olaf Scholz and also from the Federal President regarding these obnoxious omissions from Erdogan.”
Söder expects “plain text”
CSU chairman Markus Söder also raised expectations by calling for a new agreement with Turkey to reduce the number of refugees. We expect “clear language on the matter, but also clear results,” said the Bavarian Prime Minister in Munich. Scholz also had to talk to Erdogan about his statements about Hamas. “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.
The Left generally criticized the 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 in Berlin. “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.
Source: Stern
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