By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN
Foreign ministers of Turkey and Germany have expressed a common desire to lower tensions between the two countries following Ankara's sharp criticism of Berlin over a controversial ban on rallies of Turkish politicians in the country.
“We agree that none of us have an interest in causing a permanent damage to German-Turkish relations, and the current stress test in our relations can only be overcome if we enter into a dialogue based on mutual respect and factual discussion,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters Wednesday after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Berlin.
“There is no alternative to these talks. Only through these talks, and in a step-by-step fashion, we can have the opportunity to return to normalization, and actually to friendly relationship between Germans and Turks again,” Gabriel added.
The two foreign ministers held a breakfast meeting at Berlin’s Adlon Hotel amid an escalating war of words between the two countries over the banned meetings of Turkish ministers in Germany ahead of a referendum on constitutional reforms in Turkey.
Speaking at a separate press conference later in the day, Cavusoglu expressed Turkey’s desire to normalize relations with Germany, but underlined that German authorities should first put an end to their “systematic” pressure against those who favored constitutional change and transition to a presidential system of governance in Turkey.
“Nobody would benefit from deterioration of ties between our two countries, neither Turkey, nor Germany would have any benefit out of it,” he said, and underlined that he raised Ankara’s expectations during his tete-a-tete with Gabriel.
“I have conveyed our uneasiness over a systematic smear campaign against Turkey,” he said.
“Turkey and Germany are two countries which need the support of each other in almost all areas. But, we have to first decide on the following: Are we going to continue our way as two friends or end it.
“We want to continue on our way as two friends. But Germany should make a decision. And then we will take our steps accordingly,” he added.
Relations between the two countries plunged recently after German local authorities cancelled several events related to Turkey’s April 16 referendum on constitutional change that Turkish government ministers had planned to address.
Cavusoglu said he gave Gabriel on Wednesday a list of planned rallies in Germany by Turkish politicians, and now they expected from German authorities not to block these events.
The cancellation of referendum rallies caused big anger in Turkey, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comparing the move to Nazi-era practices.
Erdogan’s possible visit
About Erdogan’s possible visit to Germany to address the Turkish community ahead of April 16 referendum, Cavusoglu said such a visit might take place.
“It has not yet been decided where the president would hold a rally,” he said, but confirmed the issue was discussed during his meeting with Gabriel.
“Sigmar Gabriel expressed his views on where such a rally might be organized. The date is still undecided. He told me that German authorities would take all necessary measures when our president comes to meet with our citizens in Germany. This is, of course, what ought be done. But still, it is a very positive thing that Sigmar Gabriel mentioned this in such a difficult period,” he said.
Nearly 3 million Turkish migrants live in Germany and around half are eligible to vote in the referendum, which could grant wide-ranging powers to the president.
Turkish citizens in Germany will cast their votes at consulates between March 27 and April 9.
Germany’s opposition parties and several media organizations have been campaigning for a ban on rallies by Turkish politicians, claiming that it is undermining social harmony in the country.
While several opposition figures also called for a travel ban against Turkish politicians, German government ruled out such a move.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert spoke Monday against a general ban on rallies by Turkish ministers ahead of the referendum, adding the federal government was not involved in any way in last week's decisions by local authorities.
"Public appearances of Turkish government members here in Germany are possible, within the framework of laws and regulations which should be respected here," Seibert told a regular press conference in Berlin.
Cavusoglu highlighted on Wednesday that German authorities should not take a side in Turkey’s referendum, and should stop raising obstacles for the events organized by the Yes campaign.
“We never took a side in German elections,” he said, underlining that Turkish politicians have never exerted influence on the political choices of ethnic Turkish German citizens.
“Germany should also not take a side in such a sensitive referendum process in Turkey, and should refrain from favoring the Yes or No campaigns. Because this is an issue of our internal affairs,” he said.
A day before his meeting with Gabriel, Cavusoglu had slammed German authorities for cancelling nine venues for events organized by the Yes campaign, and said Germany was favoring the No campaign.
The fallout over the referendum rallies was the latest sign of strained ties between Ankara and Berlin. Turkish politicians also criticized Germany for turning a blind eye to terrorist organizations such as the PKK and Fetullah Terrorist Organization.
Tensions between the two countries further escalated last month after German media and politicians slammed Turkey for the pre-trial detention of Die Welt’s Istanbul correspondent Deniz Yucel on charges of making terror propaganda.
