Germany has repeatedly requested sound evidence on coup from Turkey, says FM Gabriel

Speaking before journalists at a membership meeting of Association of Foreign Journalists (VAP) in Berlin, foreign minister of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, gave significantly important statements about the bilateral relations with his country and Turkey; the Gülen movement; fight against PKK; and Erdoğan’s upcoming visit to Germany for the G20 Summit, according to report of Değer Akal from DW Türkçe.

Admitting to fault in his country’s approach towards Turkey after the failed coup attempt of July 15 last year, Gabriel said ‘German officials should have expressed a stronger message of solidarity and visited Turkey shortly after the failed coup.’

On the other hand, Gabriel also said German authorities had repeatedly requested ‘sound evidence’ regarding the coup attempt and the investigations launched afterwards. Since these requests of Germany were not met by Turkish authorities, ‘it was not possible for Germany to come to a conclusion whether extradition(s) would be fair or not.’

“I have not been successful in convincing Turkey that we, as Germany, do not have a deep state”, Gabriel said and added: “As for asylum seekers, we have certain laws and regulations that we have to abide by…”

Also saying Turkey is ‘right in its warnings about PKK propaganda in Germany’, Gabriel reminded that Germany also sees PKK as a terrorist group and added, ‘allowing posters of Öcalan – jailed head of PKK – on the streets of Germany while not allowing Turkish politicians to hold events here is not right, as Turks press’.

Known for his positive approach towards Turkey, minister Gabriel also expressed concern over violations of right to free thought and freedom of expression, which have left hundreds of people – including journalists – jailed.

With regards to requests of Erdoğan to hold a massive public meeting with the Turkish diaspora in Germany, Gabriel repeated previous assertions and said it was not found by German officials as ‘appropriate for the time being’, considering the ongoing complications andn risks.

"The tension we are going through with Turkey currently is so great and harsh that we do not see it appropriate for domestic politics of Turkey to be brought up in Germany, for the sake of our foreign relations interests", Gabriel said.

Gabriel also mentioned the previous assertions of Erdoğan calling German officails ‘Nazis’ created seriously ‘deep resentments’ among the German officials and the public.

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/gabriel-turkiye-den-defalarca-somut-kanit-talep-ettik-167592.html