![]() Good (Iyi) Party, launched in October by Meral Aksener, is eligible for June 24 parliamentary and presidential polls. Read More |
Saturday, 06 January 2018 19:39

Foreign ministers of Turkey and Germany agree to work towards improving relations after period of high tensions.
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Germany have agreed to work towards improving relations that have been strained after a period of high tensions.
The apparent bid to restore friendlier ties between the two countries was laid bare on Saturday when Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's foreign minister, hosted his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Speaking to reporters at the central German city of Goslar, Gabriel said the two top diplomats had been tasked to do "everything we can to overcome the difficulties there have been in German-Turkish relations and to find more common ground in the future".
For his part, Cavusoglu said major differences remained between the two countries, but noted that "as two foreign ministers, we believe we can overcome this through dialogue".
Soured relations
Ankara and Berlin have clashed over numerous issues in recent years, especially after a failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
The tensions rose partly due to the subsequent imprisonment of German journalists and activists by Turkish authorities on "terror" charges as well as Germany's refusal to extradite asylum seekers Turkey alleges were involved in the putsch bid.
Tens of thousands of people have been held and purged in Turkey since the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, prompting condemnation by some EU member states as well as rights groups which accuse the Turkish authorities of using the putsch bid as a pretext to silence opposition.
Turkey, however, insists the moves are aimed at removing supporters of Fethullah Gulen from state institutions and other parts of society. Ankara blames Gulen for the coup bid, a charge which he denies.
Turkish officials have meanwhile accused Germany of harbouring "terrorists", while also expressing frustration over their country's stalled EU membership bid.
In recent weeks, Ankara has released several German citizens on bail following their detention after the failed coup attempt. Among them are Mesale Tolu, a journalist with the ETHA news agency, and human rights activist Peter Steudtner.
Gabriel said he had discussed the arrest of Deniz Yucel, a prominent German-Turkish journalist who has been jailed in Turkey pending trial on charges of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party.
He did not offer additional details.
Germany, home to a three-million ethnic Turks, is also Turkey's biggest trade partner.
Before his visit to Germany, Cavusoglu called for a "fresh start" based on friendship and cooperation between "equal partners".
< Prev | Next > |
---|
Thousands protest against Macron reforms across France | The UK's Windrush generation: What's the scandal about? | Tens of thousands rally in Armenia as ex-president elected PM |
Scientists test plastic-eating enzyme in bid to fight pollution | Russia 'will not delay' in response to US sanctions: Deputy FM | Theresa May defends Syria strikes in parliament |
Most Read News
- Iraq launches 'deadly strikes' against ISIL inside Syria
- Tens of thousands rally in Armenia as ex-president elected PM
- Saudi in talks with US over troop deployment in Syria
- ISIL given '48 hours' to evacuate area south of Damascus
- Khalifa Haftar's chief of staff survives assassination attempt
- Is France reinventing itself as a kingmaker in the Middle East?
Global_News
Donation
Related
- Debuting Turkish party eligible to partake in snap elections
- Turkey's Erdogan calls for snap elections on June 24
- Turkey anti-emergency protests draw government criticism
- Turkey's Erdogan backs strikes on Syrian chemical facilities
- Dangerous Escalation in the Middle East
- Turkey orders detention of 140 people over Gulen links
Featured_Author
Opinion
![]() |
Missiles over Damascus Courtesy of Monsters in Washington |
Lawrence Davidson | |
![]() |
Who is Really in Charge? |
Timothy V. Gatto | |
![]() |
Storm Warning |
Will Durst | |
![]() |
The Crime of the Tripartite Aggression Against Syria |
Elias Akleh | |
![]() |
We are all guilty! |
Uri Avnery | |
![]() |
A Civilization in Collapse, the Dawn of a New Order |
Graham Peebles | |
![]() |
The Dangerous Deficit in Trade Understanding |
Sheldon Richman | |
![]() |
The Banality of Evil: Diverting the Palestinian Struggle |
Richard Falk | |
![]() |
Military Law and Order on the Border |
Jacob Hornberger | |
![]() |
Solidarity with Julian Assange and Carles Puigdemont |
Ludwig Watzal |