“European capitals should not decide on whether to end accession talks with Turkey, it should be Turkey that should decide on the matter,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Steinmeier, who arrived in Ankara early on Tuesday, will conduct talks amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries and tense relations between Turkey and Europe.
Steinmeier also said he was against the EU breaking off accession talks with Turkey, “a crucial partner for the bloc in stemming the influx of migrants from the Middle East.”
Cavusoglu added that “Turkey’s fed up with the condescending attitude of the EU,” in the country’s accession talks with the bloc.
The Turkish FM said there were legal cases against 4,500 members of the PKK terror organization in Germany but only three of them had been sent back to Turkey.
“People of Turkish origin, Turkish diplomatic missions in Germany are being attacked by PKK sympathisers,” added Cavusoglu, while noting the growing number of Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) suspects seeking asylum in the country after the failed July 15 coup attempt, referring to their number one suspects.
Cavusoglu concluded by stating that it was up to the Turkish people to decide on the question of reinstating the death penalty, a move which would likely bring an end to the country’s accession process.
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