Let's make up, Turkish foreign minister tells Germany

[webfact]

Let's make up, Turkish foreign minister tells Germany

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attends a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, October 24, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Friday for a fresh start in his country's rocky relationship with Germany, holding out the prospect of closer economic cooperation, particularly in transport and energy, if ties improved.

 

In a column written for the Funke media group of newspapers for publication on Friday ahead of a meeting with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, Cavusoglu called for an end to the "current crisis spiral in our relationship".

 

"Both sides have an interest in a new start in the bilateral relationship as we live in a time full of challenges," he wrote. "It is not the time for bullhorn diplomacy."

 

Cavusoglu said Germany needed to develop a more "empathetic" tone in its dealings with Turkey. Berlin did not seem to fully understand the "trauma" caused by a failed coup against President Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.

 

Last month, Gabriel said Turkey's decision to release a sixth German citizen from jail gave hope that relations between the two NATO allies could improve after plumbing new lows following the coup attempt.

 

German politicians have been outspoken critics of Turkey's security crackdown since the coup. Tens of thousands of Turks have been jailed, including around a dozen German citizens. Germany is home to some 3 million people of Turkish heritage.

 

Ankara has criticised Berlin for not handing over asylum seekers it accuses of involvement in the failed coup.

 

Cavusoglu said an improved relationship could mean that the two countries could work more closely in areas including security and trade.

 

He said trade between Germany and Turkey amounted to 174 billion euros (£155 billion) in the last five years, with major opportunities in the coming decade from big infrastructure projects, in particular in transport and renewable energy.

 

He stressed the importance of Turkey's role in stemming a wave of migrants to Germany under a deal with the European Union in 2016 and said he hoped that the EU would live up to its commitments to make it easier for Turks to get visas in return.

 

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; editing by Ralph Boulton)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-05

[boomerangutang]

Translation: The Turk government wants more money from Germans.

[ezzra]

37 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

Translation: The Turk government wants more money from Germans.

Not really, the problems with the Turks that they have big mouth shitting where they suppose to eat, one day cursing and accusing everyone and everybody and when the needs be, let's kiss and make up, it's the doing of the megalomaniac Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that think Europe is a puppet to his amusements....

[soalbundy]

Lets not, said the majority of the German public

[phantomfiddler]

Turkey joining the E.U. will be a disaster, and hopefully U.K. will be well clear of it by the time it happens. Not only rats desert a sinking ship !

[ujayujay]

Let him beg a while. But keep the Door to EU closed. It' a great Lesson for them.

[henry15]

2 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

Turkey joining the E.U. will be a disaster, and hopefully U.K. will be well clear of it by the time it happens. Not only rats desert a sinking ship !

Turkey wille never join the E.U. The new Eastern E.U. memnbers will never allow that.

[geriatrickid]

The EU shunning of the lunatic  dictator from Turkey is hurting. The Turks wouldn't be sending out feelers unless they needed or wanted something.  The Turks have been trying to push the Arabs around and it backfired. The Arabs were not interested in being lectured by a  former colonial oppressor. It has been a motivator for Turkey to try and regain some diplomatic  position. It won't work though. I expect the Germans are fed up with Turkey.

[Srikcir]

Germany will accept Turkey's rapprochement in a pragmatic fashion. As Turkey needs EU investment, the EU needs Turkey energy and trade market access. I expect Erdogan to tone down his rhetoric on refugees and human rights in exchange for a more cooperative response from Merkel and the EU.

Especially in the light of successful dominance of Russia in Syria.

"It is not the time for bullhorn diplomacy" runs in both directions.

[The Theory]

I don't see any "happy hours" happen with current president of Turkey. Perhaps next one. 

[Stargeezr]

The Turkey Dictator is a real Turkey.  My humble opinion of course. I hope Germany just ignores this guy and his country..

Geezer

[ilostmypassword]

What the advocates of a hard line against Turkey ignore is that Turkey does have one huge negotiating asset: refugees. Right now, Turkey is holding them back. It doesn't have to.

[Morch]

16 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Germany will accept Turkey's rapprochement in a pragmatic fashion. As Turkey needs EU investment, the EU needs Turkey energy and trade market access. I expect Erdogan to tone down his rhetoric on refugees and human rights in exchange for a more cooperative response from Merkel and the EU.

Especially in the light of successful dominance of Russia in Syria.

"It is not the time for bullhorn diplomacy" runs in both directions.

 

Indeed....until the next crisis.