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Merkel and Erdogan Ratchet Up War of Words Ahead of Turkish Referendum Merkel-Erdogan Dispute Ratchets Up Before Turkish Referendum
(about 3 hours later)
ANKARA, Turkey — An unusually bitter dispute between Germany and Turkey escalated on Thursday as the leaders of the two countries accused each other of acting in bad faith. ANKARA, Turkey — An unusually bitter dispute between Germany and Turkey escalated on Thursday as leaders in both countries accused the other of acting in bad faith.
The tensions are ratcheting up ahead of an April referendum on a new Constitution in Turkey that would vastly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His allies want him to campaign in Germany, where 1.5 million Turks live and are eligible to vote in the referendum. The controversy has worsened ahead of an April referendum in Turkey on a new Constitution that would vastly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His allies want him to campaign in Germany, where 1.5 million Turks live and are eligible to vote.
Mr. Erdogan has accused Germany of using “Nazi practices” to block him from campaigning there. Germany, in turn, has voiced concern about Turkey’s crackdown on civil liberties and the detention of a Turkish-German journalist, Deniz Yucel. Mr. Erdogan has accused Germany of using “Nazi practices” to block him from campaigning. Germany, in turn, is agitated about Turkey’s crackdown on civil liberties and the detention of a Turkish-German journalist, Deniz Yucel.
Norbert Lammert, the president of the German Parliament, has warned that the Turkish referendum could pave the way for “an increasingly autocratic state that is growing more removed from European values and standards.” Norbert Lammert, the president of Germany’s Parliament, has warned that the referendum could pave the way for “an increasingly autocratic state that is growing more removed from European values and standards.”
In remarks to Parliament on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany called the Nazi comparison “completely unacceptable,” saying that the remarks were “sad and incredibly misplaced” and that they trivialized the suffering of victims of the Nazis. In remarks to Parliament on Tuesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel called the Nazi comparison “completely unacceptable.” She said that the remarks were “sad and incredibly misplaced,” and that they trivialized the suffering of victims of the Nazis.
Ms. Merkel added that it was in Germany’s interests not to distance itself from Turkey, but she said the dispute involved fundamental principles like freedom of the press, speech and assembly. Ms. Merkel said that it was in Germany’s interest not to distance itself from Turkey, but that the dispute involved fundamental principles like the freedom of the press, speech and assembly.
“We want to do everything in order to prevent conflicts emanating from the domestic situation in Turkey from being carried into our coexistence here,” Ms. Merkel said, addressing Turks living in Germany. “Let us continue, wherever possible, to promote and further improve our way of living together. This is a matter close to our hearts.” Addressing the Turks living in Germany, Ms. Merkel said: “We want to do everything in order to prevent conflicts emanating from the domestic situation in Turkey from being carried into our coexistence here. Let us continue, wherever possible, to promote and further improve our way of living together. This is a matter close to our hearts.”
In Ankara, the Turkish capital, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was less conciliatory, accusing Germany of meddling in Turkey’s internal politics, a move he called “a grave mistake.” At a news conference in Ankara, the Turkish capital, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was less conciliatory, accusing Germany of meddling in Turkey’s internal politics, which he called “a grave mistake.”
Mr. Yildirim said that Germany was quietly pushing for a rejection of the proposed Constitution, and added that such efforts would most likely backfire and lead most Turks living in Germany to support the change in the referendum. Mr. Yildirim said Germany was quietly pushing for the defeat of the constitutional referendum, adding that Germany’s efforts would backfire and lead most Turks living in Germany to support the referendum.
“We have a hard time understanding the reason they will be disturbed by a ‘yes’ ” vote on the referendum, Mr. Yildirim said.“We have a hard time understanding the reason they will be disturbed by a ‘yes’ ” vote on the referendum, Mr. Yildirim said.
He also suggested on Thursday that the Turkish government would extend by three months a state of emergency that has led to tens of thousands of teachers, police officers, judges and opposition politicians having been jailed without charge or trial. He also suggested on Thursday that the government would extend a state of emergency — during which tens of thousands of teachers, police officers, judges and opposition politicians have been jailed without charges or trials — by three months.
But he later appeared to backtrack, telling journalists that the National Security Council would take up the matter. In a second news conference, Ibrahim Kalin, a powerful assistant to Mr. Erdogan, said a decision had not been reached on extending the state of emergency. But Mr. Yildirim later appeared to backtrack, telling journalists that the government’s National Security Council, of which he is a member, will have to take up the matter. At a second news conference, Ibrahim Kalin, a powerful assistant to and spokesman for Mr. Erdogan, said a decision had yet to be reached on whether to extend the emergency period.
In comments to foreign journalists, Mr. Yildirim condemned President Trump’s decision to use the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” in his speeches and other public remarks, calling it “divisive” language that alienated the vast majority of Muslims who are peaceful. Mr. Kalin said Turkey’s European and American allies had unfairly criticized Turkey’s crackdown that came after last year’s coup attempt.
“The Turkish public in general is disappointed that Turkey has not received the kind of support it expected after this coup,” Mr. Kalin said.
In a third briefing on Thursday for foreign journalists, Bekir Bozdag, Turkey’s justice minister, blamed a smear campaign by “terrorist organizations” for tricking American and European journalists into holding critical views of Turkey’s crackdown.
“For instance, when you have a look at the emails of nearly all journalists in the U.S. and Europe, you can see that they have received propaganda messages from terrorist organizations,” Mr. Bozdag said.
In further comments, Mr. Yildirim condemned President Trump’s decision to use the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” in his speeches and other public remarks, calling the phrase “divisive” language that alienates the vast majority of peaceful Muslims.
“If you mention a religion in the same sentence as terrorism, then the followers of that religion — in this case two billion people — will be offended,” Mr. Yildirim said. “When you use the phrase ‘Islamic terrorism,’ all Muslims are offended.”“If you mention a religion in the same sentence as terrorism, then the followers of that religion — in this case two billion people — will be offended,” Mr. Yildirim said. “When you use the phrase ‘Islamic terrorism,’ all Muslims are offended.”
He also warned the Trump administration that relations between Turkey and the United States could worsen significantly if Washington did not extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and whom Turkish authorities accuse of masterminding a failed coup attempt in July. Mr. Yildirim, Mr. Kalin and Mr. Bozdag all warned the Trump administration that relations between Turkey and the United States could worsen significantly if the United States failed to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the leader of a religious organization who lives in Pennsylvania and whom the Turkish authorities accused of masterminding the failed coup attempt in July.
Turkey has provided extensive documentation to the Justice Department that it says proves Mr. Gulen’s involvement. So far, the American authorities have not agreed. Turkey has provided extensive documentation to the Justice Department that it claims proves Mr. Gulen’s guilt, the three said. So far, the American authorities have yet to agree.
Mr. Yildirim also said that relations could suffer if the United States decided to attack the Syrian city of Raqqa with Kurdish forces that Turkey views as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. “I can clearly say that whatever Osama bin Laden means for American citizens, Fethullah Gulen means for the Turkish people,” Mr. Bozdag said.
The Trump administration “needs to win the hearts and minds of Turkish public opinion,” he continued. “And at the moment, the Turkish public has a very negative opinion of the United States.” Mr. Bozdag said he expected to have a phone conversation soon with the United States attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to discuss his country’s extradition request.
Scores of journalists have been arrested in recent months in Turkey, but Mr. Bozdag said none had been detained because of their journalism.
Mr. Yildirim and Mr. Kalin also said relations could suffer if the United States chose to attack the Syrian city of Raqqa, the headquarters of the Islamic State, with Kurdish forces whom Turkey views as allied with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party.
The Trump administration “needs to win the hearts and minds of Turkish public opinion,” Mr. Yildirim said. “And at the moment, the Turkish public has a very negative opinion of the United States.”