President Erdogan, German counterpart Steinmeier address bilateral, Türkiye-EU relations

Erdogan and Steinmeier, in a joint press conference, delve into the robust Turkish-German relations, addressing pressing concerns such as terrorism and trade

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday.

President Erdogan emphasized that the tourism relations are extremely strong and highlighted the significant roles of the Turkish community in Germany.

He said there is wide-ranging cooperation, from trade to cultural values, and underlined the humanitarian bridge role of citizens.

Erdogan expressed the importance of the new German law allowing dual citizenship but also voiced concerns about Islamophobia, far-right, and racist organizations. Referring to the Solingen massacre, where four Turkish citizens were killed, Erdogan stated they expected the perpetrators to be punished appropriately.

Call for cooperation against terrorism

President Erdogan also touched upon the fight against terrorist organizations like PKK/YPG and called for more effective cooperation. He stressed that restrictions in the defense industry should be lifted and mentioned the trade target of 60 billion dollars.

“We hope that Türkiye and Germany will begin to discuss joint production ventures rather than barriers, particularly in defense,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan mentioned that the Customs Union and visa liberalization were discussed, and views on regional and global developments were exchanged. He completed the call for an end to the atrocities in Gaza and highlighted Netanyahu’s endangerment of the region’s security.

‘Visa liberalization requires a lot of effort’

German President Steinmeier stated that Turkish-German relations are deeply rooted and valued, emphasizing that the historical ties are current. Steinmeier highlighted that the trade between the two countries has reached a record and praised Türkiye’s reforms in Europe.

Emphasizing the importance of press freedom and the rule of law, Steinmeier emphasized cooperation at the G-20 and NATO. The Cyprus issue and the Russia-Ukraine war were also discussed.

Steinmeier said that Germany knows Türkiye supports Ukraine and expressed the desire for further successful relations between the two countries. He stressed the importance of working on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

‘Trade chapter with Israel closed’

When asked by a journalist about the perceived contradiction between President Erdogan’s outspoken criticism of Israel and the continuation of trade relations, Erdogan highlighted Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the resulting deaths, saying “trade chapter with Israel closed,” and emphasized Türkiye’s efforts for the exchange of hostages.

On the other hand, Steinmeier responded to journalists on Germany’s weapons support to Israel and the case against Germany at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying that Germany is also making efforts at the court regarding the claim that Germany’s support contributes to genocide.

Steinmeier also said that the racist attacks against Turkish citizens will be properly addressed in Germany and decent punishment will be given to the perpetrators.

Source: Newsroom

#haber#