Germany moved to reduce tension with Turkey on Monday amid
an escalating war of words between the two countries over banned meetings of
Turkish ministers with members of the Turkish community.
"I believe that our task should be to normalize our
relations again," Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters in
Brussels ahead an EU foreign ministers meeting.
He expressed hope that both governments would make every
effort to overcome their differences, in remarks which aimed to calm down
tension ahead of a meeting between German and Turkish foreign ministers in
Berlin on Wednesday.
Relations between the two countries plunged to a new low
last week, after German local authorities cancelled rallies of Turkish justice
and economy ministers, who were scheduled to meet the representatives of
Germany’s 3 million-strong Turkish community, on the proposed presidential
system in Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed German
authorities for undermining freedom of expression and right to assembly, and
said these practices "are no different than the Nazi ones of the past”.
Nearly 1.5 million Turkish residents in Germany are eligible
to vote in Turkey’s April 16 referendum on constitutional reforms, which
include change to a presidential system of governance. Turkish citizens will
cast their votes at Turkish consulates in Germany between March 27 and April 9.
To read more on the news,visit aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-seeks-to-de-escalate-tension-with-turkey-/765097
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