After release of journalist Deniz Yücel, Turkish government hopes for a stronger armament cooperation with Germany and a defusing of travel advice for Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım told German press agency at edge of Munich Security Conference that he wanted a German participation in planned construction of Turkish battle tank Altay. He also announced a visit to Germany of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after new federal government was sworn in.
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The 44-year-old German Turk Yücel was released on Friday after a year of pre-trial detention for terror accusations. The federal government stressed that no consideration for release had been promised. “There is no deal, neir a dirty nor a clean one,” had said chief Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD). Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also rejected such speculation: “There has never been a deal.”
The Turkish government neverless hopes that relations with Germany can now be expanded again. For Yıldırım, armaments sector is also one of development-compatible fields of cooperation. The joint construction of a combat tank would benefit both sides, he said, because ” machines come from Germany, simple parts would be made in Turkey”.
The tanks are to be built with Rheinmetall
The Turkish government plans to build about 1,000 Altay battle tanks in estimated value of about seven billion euros. For first tranche of approximately 100 to 200 tanks, Turkish truck and bus manufacturer BMC, with which Düsseldorfer Rheinmetall Group 2016 founded joint venture RBSS, also offers. The decision on order should actually fall at beginning of 2018.
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Without approval of federal government, a German company is not able to participate in tank construction in Turkey. In past year, however, federal Government had taken export licences back to a low due to tensions with Ankara government. After start of Turkish military action against Kurdish militia YPG in Syria, y were practically stopped.
Yıldırım thinks this is wrong. “Because we are a NATO member, Germany is a NATO member,” he said. “And in our region we are protecting NATO borders.” Yıldırım also defended use of German leopard tanks against YPG: “We bought m for days like today when we are attacked. When else should we use m? “
The Bundeswehr had delivered a total of 354 leopard-2 tanks to Turkey between 2006 and 2011 – with no requirements for use. The NATO partner was only prohibited from selling or giving away tanks to third parties. As a result, federal government now has no legal possibility to intervene against its use in military action in Syria. The problem: The YPG is supported by VomNato member USA in ir fight against terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS). In conflict, refore, two NATO partners are indirectly opposed.
After start of military action in January, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Foreign Minister Gabriel (SPD) agreed to stop actual planned retrofitting of tanks with a mine protection. Yıldırım said this could be done for Turkey. “On this point, we have or options. If we get it from Germany: good. If not, we have alternatives, always. ” The Turkish armaments industry can also produce mine protection itself.
The Turkish government also hopes that travel advice of Foreign Office for Turkey will be defused again. In July, y were tightened after arrest of German STP Peter Steudtner. Since n, Foreign Office has been warning against arbitrary arrests, to which it can come in all parts of country “including tourist-frequented regions”. “We hope this will be taken back again,” said Yıldırım.
Erdoğan to appear before German Turks
After swearing-in of a new government in Germany, Yıldırım also expects reciprocal visits at highest level. “President Erdoğan will Come (to Germany) and Mrs. Merkel, chancellor, will come to Turkey,” he said. The foreign ministers would also meet more frequently.
Yıldırım can also imagine appearances of Erdoğan’s and or leading Turkish politicians in front of compatriots in Germany. “We would always wish for that. These meetings with people of Turkey are not events that should disturb Germany, “he said.
Last year, re was controversy over election campaigns of Turkish politicians in Germany before constitutional referendum in Turkey in April. Some appearances had been banned by authorities for security reasons. The Turkish government n spoke of “Nazi methods”.
