Merkel backs dialogue with Turkey despite differences

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany will continue its dialogue and cooperation with Turkey despite recent problems in bilateral relations, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.

Addressing lawmakers during a budget debate in parliament, Merkel underlined the importance of close dialogue, despite differences with Ankara on post-coup investigations in Turkey, democracy and human rights issues.

“Of course I will keep dialog channels open with Turkey because it is also in our interest to cooperate with Turkey in a reasonable way,” Merkel said.

She defended her Turkey policy and the EU-Turkey refugee agreement of March 18, despite growing criticism by opposition politicians who called for a halt to Turkey’s EU membership talks.

Merkel said the German government would continue to cooperate with Turkey in addressing the refugee crisis and other common challenges, but said Berlin would also raise issues of democracy and human rights in bilateral meetings with Turkish officials.

Ties between Ankara and Berlin have been strained in recent months as Turkish leaders heavily criticized their German counterparts for a failure to show solidarity after the foiled July 15 coup attempt.

Turkey's government has also accused the German authorities of turning a blind eye to outlawed groups and terrorist organizations which use the country as a platform for their activities targeting Turkey.

- Failure to stand up to PKK -

Chancellor Merkel acknowledged Wednesday Germany’s responsibilities in fighting terrorism, including the PKK, responsible for the deaths of more than 44,000 people in a decades-long campaign against Turkey.

“[In Germany] we have opened more than 4,000 court cases against PKK members. But politics cannot have an influence on the rulings of our independent judiciary; it accepts these rulings,” she said.

“But the German government, like all other governments of Europe, is obliged to fight against terrorism,” she added.

The PKK has more than 14,000 followers in the country, according to reports by the German domestic intelligence agency, BfV.

The group, which is listed as a terror organization by the EU, raised more than €13 million ($14.3 million) in Germany last year, the agency said.

- Gulenists in Germany -

Turkish leaders also accused Berlin last week of not going after the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) which the government accuses of organizing the defeated July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

During her address to parliament, Merkel renewed her condemnation of the July 15 coup attempt, arguing that her government and the EU had taken a clear stance against the violence.

But she did not make any comment on the activities of Gulenists, a major concern of the Turkish government.

Germany, which hosts a three-million strong Turkish community, is among the countries where FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, has a large network with dozens of private schools, businesses and media organizations.

Several important Gulenist figures, including prosecutors and journalists, are believed to have fled from Turkey to Germany.

Last month, Turkey formally asked the German authorities to locate, arrest and hand over two high-profile prosecutors -- Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara -- who are accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government.

They are accused of playing a key role in an anti-graft probe in late 2013 which targeted the upper echelons of the Turkish government.

Around a dozen Turkish officials, including several military personnel, suspected of having ties to FETO, applied for asylum in Germany after the foiled coup attempt.

Berlin views Gulenists with suspicion but the group is not outlawed in the country, with the authorities stressing that such a move can only come after concrete evidence of criminality was presented.

Gulenists have primarily focused on interfaith dialogue programs promoting messages of moderate Islam in Germany in what many see as an effort to win the trust of the media and political institutions.