News / Germany

Germany's president says Erdogan damaging Turkish achievements

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 1:00 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 22 March 2017 6:01 PM ]

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech after he was sworn in at the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin, March 22, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Germany's newly-elected President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan of risking “collapsing” everything Ankara had recently achieved and of damaging relations with its partners.

Ankara has been embroiled in a row with Berlin and other European capitals over campaigning among the Turkish diaspora for a referendum on granting Erdogan greater powers.

"The way we look (at Turkey) is characterized by worry, that everything that has been built up over years and decades is collapsing," Steinmeier said on Wednesday in his inaugural speech in the largely ceremonial role.

"President Erdogan, you are jeopardizing everything that you, with others, have built," he said, adding that he would welcome "credible signs" to ease the situation.

NATO ally Turkey has repeatedly accused Germany of using Nazi tactics to ban ministerial appearances and has caused anger in Germany by holding German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel.

"But end the unspeakable Nazi comparisons!" Steinmeier said. "Do not cut the ties to those people who want partnership with Turkey! Respect the rule of law and the freedom of media and journalists! And release Deniz Yucel."

Erdogan warns Europeans' risk being 'unsafe' as feud rages with EU

Erdogan warned Wednesday that Europeans risk being unsafe on the world's streets, as a crisis between Ankara and the EU showed no signs of abating.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a Turkish Anatolian Publishers Association Members meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on March 22, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

"If you continue to behave like this, tomorrow in no part of the world, no European, no Westerner will be able to take steps on the street safely and peacefully," Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara.

Erdogan did not expand on what he meant by his comments but appeared to imply that Europeans risked receiving the same treatment that, he says, is endured by Turks and Muslims in Europe.

Ankara has said the bans on Turkish ministers campaigning in the European countries was reminiscent of Nazi Germany and also raised alarm over what it sees as rising racism and Islamophobia on the continent.

Erdogan warned Europe that Turkey was "not a country to push, to prod, to play with its honor, to shove its ministers out of the door, drag its citizens on the floor."

He said the world was watching Europe's actions "very closely", adding: "We as Turkey urge Europe to respect democracy, human rights, freedoms."

His repeated comparisons with Nazi Germany have been strongly condemned by the European Union as well as Berlin and the Hague, precipitating a crisis that has raised doubts over the viability of Turkey's EU bid.

(Source: Agencies)

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