Erdogan on the attack as protests and suicide mar visit to Germany
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, the Turkish president, was greeted with protests and controversy in Germany yesterday as a state visit designed to repair relations between the Nato allies appeared only to highlight their stark divisions.
There were uncomfortable scenes at the state banquet as Mr Erdoğan abandoned the planned text of his speech in an uncontrolled attack on Germany.
Guests looked on in shock as the Turkish leader turned on his host, Frank-walter Steinmeier, Germany’s president.
“I have to deal with one issue: Mr Steinmeier’s concerns over arrested German citizens in Turkey and detained journalists and trade unionists,” Mr Erdoğan said.
“Now it’s time to speak out publicly so that we are on the same page. This is wrong information, and it is my job to correct this information. We have no responsibility to protect terrorists. If someone terrorises my country and our judiciary punishes them, that’s the way it should be. It’s the same in Germany and other countries.”
Mrs Merkel, who generally does not attend state banquets, was not at the dinner, leaving President Steinmeier to bear the brunt of Mr Erdoğan’s wrath.
The Turkish president went on to complain about protesters on the street outside, claiming they were members of the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
“They walk around with big pictures of the head of their terrorist organisation in the streets,” he said. “Why is this allowed? Is it right that these people, who killed thousands of our people, can walk around so openly?”
Thousands marched through Berlin under a banner of “Erdoğan not welcome”, while a Kurdish activist burnt himself to death in an apparent suicide protest.
Angela Merkel had appeared to throw Mr Erdoğan a lifeline by offering a full state visit at a time when Turkey is struggling under US sanctions. But there was little sign of common ground after face-to-face talks.
“It is important to continue the dialogue with Turkey, because we can only work out our differences by talking,” said Mrs Merkel.
“There is much that unites us: Nato membership, the migrant issue, and the fight against terror.” But she added: “There are still profound differences between us over press freedom and the rule of law.”
As if to underline the point, Mr Erdoğan demanded the extradition of a prominent Turkish journalist living in self-imposed exile in Germany.
Ties between the allies have been strained by the crackdown on opponents of the Turkish regime, and Mrs Merkel urged Mr Erdoğan to free five German citizens held in Turkey on what Germany called “political charges”.
But Mr Erdoğan rebuffed the request and demanded that Germany do more to help Turkey in its crackdown on opponents of his regime. He claimed supporters of the PKK and Fethullah Gülen, the cleric Turkey alleges was behind a failed coup in 2016, are living in Germany. The Turkish foreign ministry reportedly handed over a list of 69 people it wanted Germany to extradite as Mr Erdoğan arrived.