Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds joint news conference with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Ankara
April 26, 2024. Posted by Periscope - Hellas
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday expressed hope Ankara and Berlin would not encounter obstacles and focus on discussing joint production projects, particularly in the defense sector.
"We
hope that Turkey and Germany will begin to discuss joint production ventures
rather than barriers, particularly in defense," Erdogan told a joint press
conference with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on an
official visit, in Ankara.
"(With
Germany) We desire to completely remove the restrictions we face in the defense
industry," he added.
Trade between
Ankara Berlin
He said Turkey
aims to expand bilateral trade volume with Germany, which has surpassed $50
billion, to $60 billion in a balanced manner.
Erdogan
said as NATO allies, Ankara and Berlin have multi-faceted relations in various
fields, from security to economy, and culture to science.
“I attach
special importance to increasing mutual investments. We are also keen to
advance our cooperation in the defense industry in a manner consistent with our
bilateral relations and the spirit of alliance," he added.
He said
bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector is also developing, adding: “The
strongest common ground and the backbone of our ties are strong human
connections. The number of people we bid farewell to from Sirkeci Station 63
years ago has reached 3.5 million. Turkish “guest workers” boarded trains for
Germany from the Istanbul station in 1961.
President
Erdogan expressed his belief that the Turkish-German friendship will continue
to grow stronger and develop.
He said
over the past six decades, the Turkish community has transitioned from being
migrants to assuming critical roles in Germany's social, economic, cultural,
and academic life.
The Turkish
leader said he discussed with the German head of state issues concerning the
integration of the Turkish community in Germany, and mentioned the new German
citizenship law as a welcome step in this regard.
Erdogan
expressed his pleasure in hosting Steinmeier and his delegation in Ankara,
saying the visit was valuable as it was his first as president, and coincided
with the 100th anniversary of the Turkey-Germany Friendship Treaty.
Erdogan
also expressed his gratitude to Germany and its people for their solidarity
during the Feb. 6, 2023 twin earthquakes in southern Turkey.
Fight against terrorism
The
president said Ankara expects "further support and solidarity from German
authorities in the fight against terrorism."
He
expressed growing concerns about the rise of xenophobic, Islamophobic,
far-right, and racist organizations in Germany, along with Europe.
“Unfortunately,
after 31 years since the Solingen arson attack, we lost two children and four
siblings in a similar attack. I have shared our expectations for the full
investigation and punishment of those responsible for the heinous incident that
occurred on March 25,” he added.
Three
decades ago, a far-right arson attack in Solingen killed five members of a
Turkish immigrant family, in one of the most severe instances of racist
violence in modern Germany.
This March,
four members of a Turkish-Bulgarian family were killed in a fire, and over a
dozen others were injured, some seriously, in the same city.
Germany should see ‘horrific scene' in Gaza
Erdogan
said they discussed steps to renew Turkey-EU customs union and visa
liberalization, besides other regional and global developments.
The Turkish
leader also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel has killed
more than 34,000 Palestinians, and said Ankara will continue to intensify its
efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the enclave, and ensure that uninterrupted
and adequate humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinian people.
Erdogan
said Turkey has shown “a resolute, conscientious, and courageous stance” on
Gaza from the beginning.
“On this
occasion, I reiterated our call for an end to the unprecedented oppression that
has been ongoing in Gaza for 200 days.
“It is
evident to everyone that as long as Israel's attacks continue, threats to both
regional and global peace escalate. The recent escalation of tensions between
Iran and Israel is the latest and most striking example of this,” he said.
“We are all
well aware that the suffering of the innocent, condemned to death, hunger, and
destitution, will not be forgotten for generations to come,” he continued. “The
efforts of Israeli administration to hide its atrocities and massacres
committed in Gaza should not be allowed."
He said
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just to prolong his political
career, is jeopardizing security of not only his own citizens but the entire
region.
Turkey is
no longer sustaining intensive trade relations with Israel, and that chapter is
closed, he stressed.
Saying that
Israel killed women and children in Gaza, Erdogan urged Germany to see the
"horrific scene" in the blockaded enclave.
Steinmeier,
for his part, stressed Germany does not have as intense, friendly and familial
relations with any other country in the world as it does with Turkey.
He
emphasized that the two countries were indispensable to each other and needed
each other.
On the
Palestine issue, he said: "Without a political perspective for
Palestinians, security cannot be ensured for Israel either. This perspective
can only be a two-state solution."
Turkish media