German government dismisses criticism of Turkey visit

10/20/2015 4:17:56 AM

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Senior German ministers defended Chancellor Angela Merkel’s weekend visit to Istanbul on Monday.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said both Europe and Turkey had a shared interest infinding a solution to Europe’s refugee crisis and Merkel’s approach was correct.

“We have to make compromises and Turkey also has to make the same” he said in an interview with the N24 TV channel. “But opposing everything saying this cannot happen that cannot happen… We can get nowhere like that.”

Opposition parties criticized Merkel’s visit arguing her positive comments implied support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the Nov. 1 general election in Turkey.

They also criticized Merkel for not meeting Turkish opposition leaders and ignoring human rights issues.

HoweverFinance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said the EU and Germany needed to act as quick as possible to address the growing refugee crisis.

“We must now urgently talk with Turkey and without any reservations” he told German press agency DPA.“The chancellor’s visit was exactly the right step to take.”

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany and Turkey shared a “mutual interest” to “prevent irregular illegal and dangerous refugee flows at the Aegean”.

A record 577000 asylum seekers came to Germany between January and September and German authorities are expecting 1 million asylum seekers by the end of theyear.

Seibert said Germany would strongly support the EU’s recently draftedaction plan for closer cooperation with Turkey in addressing the refugee crisis.

During her visitMerkel promised stronger financial support for Syrian refugees in Turkey and urged Ankara to accelerate a readmission agreement with the EU to take back migrants who crossed into Europe through Turkey.

The EU plan foresees closer cooperation between Brussels and Ankara in halting migrants and fighting smugglers as well as visa free travel inEurope for Turkish nationals in return.

Asked about the criticism of Merkel's visit Seibert said thechancellor only met government figures because the talks were centered on Syria and the refugees.

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