- Title: Turkey minister says German investments fully guaranteed, denies targeting firms
- Date: 21st July 2017
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, WALKING BY ZEYBEKCI BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: "In these situations between governments, which is I think definitely temporary, one needs to be careful when making statements on economy that may cause permanent damage. If you pay attention, we have never caused damage to countries even to those with whom we had minor problems." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: "German investments in Turkey are 100 percent under Turkish state's guarantee. They are guaranteed by Turkish laws and judiciary. They have the exact same rights with Turkish companies, they are even a little bit more privileged." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: (ON ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKISH AUTHORITIES GAVE GERMANY NAMES OF GERMAN COMPANIES LINKED TO CLERIC GULEN) "You are the ministry where foreign capital and foreign investments are being registered. There is definitely not even a single company in that position. This is completely fake. This is nothing other than a rumour made in a negative environment. Therefore, one needs to remain silent as much as possible during this period." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: "These are completely unfortunate statements. In times of trouble, everybody, I mean from German side, tries to speak, everybody tries to make a statement. The biggest vulnerability is that the election in Germany is nearing. They are contesting to make negative statements against Turkey. German tourists are extremely important for Turkey. I don't think there will be significant repercussions." REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH ECONOMY MINISTER, NIHAT ZEYBEKCI, SAYING: "There is a consensus that the process, authorisation, can be finalised soon. Germany, as an EU member state, talks on their (European Union) behalf when they make such statements but I believe that they will reconsider these statements as the talks proceed." REPORTERS LISTENING ZEYBEKCI WALKING BY
- Embargoed: 4th August 2017 09:45
- Keywords: Turkey-Germany crisis economy sanctions investments Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci NATO allies U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QNSW1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Turkey's economy minister said on Thursday (July 20) German investments in Turkey were fully guaranteed by both the Turkish government and its laws, and denied reports Ankara gave Berlin a list of companies it was targeting for suspected links to last year's coup attempt.
In an interview with Reuters, Nihat Zeybekci sought to calm the rising tension between the two NATO allies, saying the crisis with Germany was temporary and both sides must refrain from talk that would cause lasting economic damage.
Germany on Thursday told its citizens to exercise caution if traveling to Turkey and threatened measures that could hinder German investment there, as its impatience grew with Ankara after the detention of rights activists.
The Die Zeit newspaper reported this week that Turkish authorities had several weeks ago handed Berlin a list of 68 German companies, including Daimler and BASF that they accused of having links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating last July's failed coup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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