Turkey urges ‘new approach’ in ties with Germany

BERLIN Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday emphasized on the need for a new phase in relations between Turkey and Germany, which have been strained since the July 2016 defeated coup. In an article penned for Germany’s Funke Media Group, Cavusoglu called for friendly cooperation between the two countries. “Through the lenses of common interests, it is time to adopt new approaches in Turkey-Germany relations,” he wrote. Citing the April 16, 2017, constitutional referendum in Turkey and Germany’s federal elections on Sept. 24 last year as the barriers for the solution of the strained ties between two countries, Cavusoglu criticized Germany’s one-sided and reductionist attitude towards Turkey. However, he emphasized on the importance of German politicians' as well as media’s interest in Turkey, even if it was in a negative light, as a sign of Turkey’s perceived influence in the global arena. After the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, ties between Turkey and Germany strained as Turkish politicians criticized their German counterparts for failing to show strong solidarity with the government against the attempted military takeover. Underlining the effect of Turkey-Germany relations on regional peace, Cavusoglu said: “What is rational [is] that we should retain our ties [in a] friendly [manner] and in a cooperation-oriented [environment] as we have since three centuries. “As a beginning, we should agree on forming a frame for a new understanding to break the current crisis gyre in our relations,” he said. Cavusoglu also said Turkey and Germany should refrain from “bullhorn diplomacy”, adding the need for an “uninterrupted high-level political dialogue” and a more “empathetic” tone in relations. Call to expand trade “Two countries should see each other on eye-length,” the foreign minister added, underlining equality in relations. Moreover, Cavusoglu criticized Germany for not understanding the “trauma” created by the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey. About the cooperation in intelligence and security sectors, he said it was “pleasing”. Turkey expects its German counterparts to adopt a decisive stance on the presence of terror groups FETO and the PKK in Germany, as it does on Daesh and other terrorist organizations, Cavusoglu said. On bilateral trade relations, Cavusoglu also emphasized on the “potential” between Germany and Turkey, referring to future infrastructure projects, in particular in transport and renewable energy. He also said trade volume between the countries had risen to 174 billion euros ($209.91 billion) in the last five years. About the refugee crisis in Europe, Cavusoglu underscored the “key role” of a refugee deal between Turkey and the European Union. He said it is an “incontestable right” of Turkey to demand visa-exemption as part of the deal. Ankara and the EU reached a deal in 2016 aimed at discouraging irregular migration to Europe through the Aegean Sea, including a €6 billion ($6.9 billion) aid package to help Turkey care for millions of refugees hosted in the country.