ZCZC
BFF-45
GERMANY-TURKEY-DIPLOMACY-ECONOMY-ADVANCER-UPDATE
Erdogan, Merkel to meet amid tensions, protests
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Sept 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan will pay a state visit to Germany this week as the two
countries seek to rebuild ties after a series of sharp spats but the
controversial trip is likely to be overshadowed by protests.
It will be Erdogan’s first official visit to Germany since becoming
president in 2014, and follows a prolonged bout of tensions sparked by
Berlin’s criticism of his crackdown on opponents in the wake of a failed 2016
coup.
“The main goal of this visit is to completely leave behind this period (of
tensions),” Erdogan told Turkish media.
The Turkish leader, seen as an increasingly authoritarian ruler by
detractors, will land in Berlin Thursday and hold talks with Chancellor
Angela Merkel over the following two days.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will welcome him with military
honours and a state dinner at Bellevue Palace on Friday — which several
opposition politicians have vowed to boycott. Merkel too will be notably
absent.
On Saturday, Erdogan will travel to Cologne to open one of Europe’s largest
mosques, commissioned by the Turkish-controlled Ditib organisation.
Commentators have been quick to point out that Erdogan’s push for a fresh
start comes as the Turkish economy is struggling and relations with the
United States have worsened.
– Euro 2024 rivals –
Thousands of Erdogan critics have vowed to take to the streets across
Germany to protest everything from Turkey’s record on human rights and press
freedom to its offensive against Kurdish militia in Syria.
Some 10,000 people are expected to rally under the motto “Erdogan Not
Welcome” in Berlin on Friday alone.
With no shortage of political and economic issues hanging over the visit,
the shadow of football also looms large.
Turkey and Germany are locked in a bitter race to host the Euro 2024
tournament, with the winner to be announced the day Erdogan arrives.
Germany’s bid has been clouded by Turkish-origin player Mesut Ozil’s
resignation from the national team over perceived racism — a move praised by
Erdogan.
“Ozil’s comment that he is ‘German when I win, an immigrant when I lose’
perfectly captures the discrimination in Germany,” Erdogan told the Funke
Mediengruppe newspaper group.
– ‘Too soon’ –
Relations between the two NATO countries plummeted after Turkish
authorities arrested tens of thousands of people in a mass purge over the
attempted putsch against Erdogan, including some who were also German
nationals.
But a gradual rapprochement began after German-Turkish journalist Deniz
Yucel was freed earlier this year, while journalist Mesale Tolu was allowed
to return to Germany last month. Both still face terror-related charges in
Turkey.
Merkel, whose country is home to a three-million-strong Turkish community,
has repeatedly stressed the importance of good relations with Ankara, a
partner she relies on to help stem the flow of migrants arriving on European
shores.
But Germany’s best-selling Bild daily said it was too soon to roll out the
red carpet for Erdogan, who just 18 months ago accused Berlin of “Nazi
practices” for blocking rallies supporting him ahead of a referendum that
gave him sweeping new powers.
“This is too much pomp and ceremony for Erdogan. We’re not there yet,” it
said in an editorial.
– Big rail project? –
Erdogan said he would use the visit to press Germany for “more efficiency”
in the fight against “terrorist groups” like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) and the movement of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames
for the coup.
Other topics on the agenda will likely be Turkey’s stalled EU membership
bid and its role in the conflict in Syria.
To help smooth over the diplomatic reset, Erdogan could dangle the promise
of a major project to modernise Turkey’s rail infrastructure.
Der Spiegel weekly reported that German giant Siemens was in talks to lead
the potential 35-billion-euro deal ($40 billion), but it was unclear whether
Berlin would help finance it.
In a sign of the contentious nature of his visit, Erdogan is not scheduled
to make any big public speeches in Germany.
Die Welt reporter Yucel, who spent over a year behind Turkish bars, slammed
Berlin for “inviting a criminal to a banquet”.
“The German government is betraying all those in Turkey who long for a
free, democratic and secular society.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1550 hrs