PodcastGermany-Turkey: refugees, Russia and now secularism
Murat Yetkin writes: The real picture in the current state of Turkish-German relations is more complicated than what were told in the press conference. Merkel, who already declared that she would not be a candidate after 2021, is trying to leave a good legacy to continue the historic ties between the two countries and Erdoğan, who wants to attract European investments and markets again, is trying to use German leverage, which is not an easy task for Merkel.
Duvar English
Prominent journalist Murat Yetkin penned a piece in which he analyzed the current state of Turkish-German relations following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week in Istanbul.
Yetkinsaid although Merkel has long objected to a full membership of Turkeyto the EU, even bringing forward a concept of “privilegedpartnership,” she stands against any suggestion to cut Ankara’sties with the bloc.
He also touched touched upon Merkel's stance regarding judicial independence and freedom of expression and press in Turkey, saying: “Merkel expressed her complaint about that Turkey does not grant press cards and accreditations to some 30 German journalists working in the country. It is understood that some contacts with the Turkish presidency were made on the issue ahead of the meeting but no results yielded.”
Yetkin said although the German administration used to consider Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), of which Erdoğan is the chairman, as a “an opportunity that would pave the way for better democracy in politics and transparent economy,” now it observes that the country's “democratic standards have deteriorated with respect to the earlier years of the AKP rule where important reform steps had been taken in the framework of the EU harmonization target.”
“This impression can be compared to Erdoğan’s post-coup attempt statement on his former relations with Gülen, when he said he was 'deceived,'” Yetkin wrote.
Yetkin’s piece in full can be reached here.