German FM considers Turkey’s blackmail against Bundestag unacceptable
Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel considered unacceptable the Turkish blackmail against the Bundestag, reports Armenpress. In an interview with Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, the German FM, commenting on official Ankara’s step on banning the German lawmakers to visit the Incirlik air base, said: “I hope the Turkish government will change its mind in the coming days. Otherwise, the German federal parliament will certainly not leave soldiers in Turkey.”
On May 15 the Turkish government again banned the German Bundestag Defense Committee members to visit the German soldiers stationed in Incirlik air base. The German Foreign Ministry told Committee Chairman Wolfgang Hellmich that the Turkish government announced on May 10 the rejection of the request to visit the German soldiers in Incirlik air base.
One reason given for the denial of access was Germany’s granting asylum to a number of Turkish officers who faced persecution following the failed coup in Turkey on July 15 last year.
