Ankara (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered to Turkey that he would like to deepen bilateral relations. “We as Germans and Europeans need to strengthen our strategic partnerships. And this definitely has to include a good and even deeper partnership with Turkey,” he said in a joint press conference with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
“Let us make even better use of the enormous potential offered by our relations in the months and years ahead,” Merz said. The Federal Chancellor described the connection between Germany and Turkey as “uniquely broad and deep”.
Merz promised Erdogan that Germany would be supporting Turkey in its endeavour to become an EU member. “I personally see Turkey as a close partner of the European Union, and so does the Federal Government. We want to further pave Turkey’s path towards Europe.” Mr Merz also stated that he was determined to promote strategic dialogue with Turkey at the European level.
At the same time, he pointed out the Copenhagen criteria for EU accession, saying that “decisions have been made in Turkey that do not yet meet the required standards with regard to the rule of law and democracy from the European perspective”. The Federal Chancellor added that dialogue was underway in this context.
