TURKEY: Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on two-day visit

Record ID: 217383

  • Title: TURKEY: Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on two-day visit
  • Date: 30th March 2010
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (MARCH 29, 2010) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL LAYING A WREATH TO TOMB OF ATATURK
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABPVB7C8MASV1T1NFMYFOO850G
  • Story Text: Chancellor Angela Merkel holds bilateral talks in Ankara against a background of long-standing differences over Turkey's EU bid.
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel began a visit to Ankara on Monday (March 29) that has raised old differences over Turkey's bid for EU membership, education for immigrant Turks in Germany and possible sanctions against Iran.
    Merkel and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan laid bare their disagreements in remarks to German and Turkish newspapers in the run-up to the two-day visit.
    Merkel advocates a privileged partners relationship between Turkey and the European Union. Citing the 'pacta sunt servanda' principle, Turkey has said it is in negotiations for nothing less than full EU membership.
    Erdogan has also taken issue with Merkel over her opposition to his revived proposal for Turkish language schools and dual citizenship for immigrant Turks in Germany. Chancellor Merkel rebuffed Erdogan's proposals by stressing the importance of German language for a successful integration policy.
    Angela Merkel laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, soon after her arrival in Ankara, and was due to hold separate meetings later with Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul.
    During her talks, Merkel is also expected to urge NATO partner Turkey to be ready to support economic sanctions against Iran unless Tehran shows transparency to assure the international community that it has no covert nuclear weapons programme.
    The United States also wants Turkey to back sanctions, but Turkey doubts their effectiveness and its trade would inevitably suffer if sanctions were imposed on its fellow Muslim neighbour.
    Despite good relations with Tehran, Erdogan's own attempts to persuade the Iranian leadership to make moves needed to allay international concerns have so far come to nought.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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