Turkey's Erdogan tells Germany to "pull itself together"

Record ID: 903588

  • Title: Turkey's Erdogan tells Germany to "pull itself together"
  • Date: 21st July 2017
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JULY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, BINALI YILDIRIM, APPROACHING PODIUM REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, BINALI YILDIRIM, SAYING: "It does not do any good for Turkey. One of the biggest disputes between us and Germany, as you know, is that the sympathisers and members of FETO (eds note: refers to a term used by Turkey's government to refer to the network of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen) and PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) can find large ground there and work against our country. We want necessary measures to be taken against this." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, BINALI YILDIRIM, SAYING: "One needs to refrain from these kind of comments that will cause uneasiness in the investors that have business here. It is very clear, there is no research, no inquiry. Turkey is a safe country. It is as safe as Germany." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES YILDIRIM LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2017 15:46
  • Keywords: Turkey Germany dispute companies
  • Location: ISTANBUL AND ANKARA, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL AND ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026QNVRK7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday (July 21) condemned comments by Germany's economy minister warning companies off investing in Turkey and said the country should "pull itself together" as a dispute between the NATO allies escalates.
    German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said on Thursday (July 20) that it was extremely difficult for German companies to make investments in Turkey under the current political climate in the country.
    In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan also denied that his country had launched an inquiry into German companies after a German security source said on Friday that Turkey had provided German authorities with a list of over 680 German firms it suspected of supporting terrorism.
    Erdogan added that a German foreign ministry travel warning against Turkey was baseless and malicious and that the German government should account for terrorists which he said the country was harbouring.
    Speaking to reporters in a more conciliatory tone after Friday prayers, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey wanted Germany to take measures against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the network of the U.S.-based cleric it blames for last July's failed coup.
    He added that Turkey was just as safe as Germany, in response to the German foreign ministry warning its citizens to be more careful in travelling to the country, citing recent detentions of people there, and Ankara's refusal to grant consular access in some cases, in violation of international law.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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