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Germany Warns Turkey Nazi Remark A 'Red Line,' Calls For Dialogue

RFE/RL March 08, 2017

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said Germany and Turkey must work toward restoring ties damaged by several diplomatic rows, but warned Ankara that making a comparison to Nazis in any dispute is a "red line that cannot be crossed."

Speaking after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Berlin on March 8, Gabriel said that, despite the differences on both sides, "there is no alternative to dialogue because that is the only way we can return step by step to a normal and friendly relationship."

The meeting was the first one between the two governments since the recent arrest of German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel in Turkey and a diplomatic row over Turkish campaigning in Germany for a constitutional referendum to enhance President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers. Some 1.4 million Turks in Germany are eligible to vote in the April 16 referendum.

Several scheduled campaign meetings of Turkish officials with their diaspora in Germany were canceled last week, prompting Erdogan to accuse Germany of "Nazi practices."

His remark immediately drew a sharp response from Chancellor Angela Merkel's office, which said the Nazi reference was "absurd and out of place."

Gabriel said he addressed the referendum and campaigning by Turkish ministers in Germany as well as Yucel's arrest, which he referred to as "wrong and inappropriate."

Yucel, a correspondent for the German daily Die Welt, was accused by Erdogan of being both a German spy and a "representative" of the outlawed Kurdish rebel group PKK -- a claim Germany has dismissed as "absurd." Turkey has not yet allowed any German consular access to him.

Cavusoglu, speaking separately to reporters in Berlin after the meeting, said he had told Gabriel that Turkey was "very disturbed" by the cancelation of campaign events in Germany, and added that he had discussed with Gabriel a possible venue for a rally by Erdogan in Germany.

Cavusoglu said Germany would take all security measures for Erdogan's rally, but didn't name a location. Some 1.4 million Turks in Germany are eligible to vote in the April 16 referendum.

He said that Turkey wanted to continue as friends with Germany, and added that he had agreed with Gabriel to meet again in Turkey at a later date.

Meanwhile, Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency said on March 8 there had been a significant increase in Turkish spying in Germany. No further details were provided.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/turkey- germany-meeting-rebuild-friendship -step-by-step/28357273.html

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Germany Warns Turkey Nazi Remark A 'Red Line,' Calls For Dialogue