Striking message from German Chancellor Merz in Ankara: Question about İmamoğlu leaves its mark on the meeting

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara as part of his visit to Turkey. During the meeting held at the Presidential Complex, bilateral relations, the European Union process, defense industry cooperation, migration policies, and regional developments were discussed.

Following the meeting, the two leaders held a joint press conference. In his statement, Merz emphasized their support for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership.

"WE WANT TO SEE TURKEY IN THE EU"

In his statement regarding Turkey's EU membership, German Chancellor Merz said, "I and the Federal Government want to see Turkey in the EU. I have proposed a strategic dialogue on this matter. We desire for the dialogue to be restarted."

Reminding that there are certain conditions regarding the EU membership process, Merz stated that the process must progress on the basis of reforms and mutual trust.

ERDOĞAN: "WE MAINTAIN OUR DETERMINATION"

President Erdoğan, for his part, emphasized that Turkey's goal of full membership in the European Union continues with determination. Erdoğan said, "If the determined will displayed by Turkey receives the response it deserves from the Union, we can make significant progress in a very short time."

Stating that the Turkish community in Europe acts as a bridge in the relations between the two countries, Erdoğan said, "We attach great importance to the fight against xenophobia and Islamophobia, which have reached the level of racism that cannot be prevented from rising in Europe."

MESSAGE ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE VOLUME

Reminding that Germany is Turkey's largest trading partner in Europe, Erdoğan shared the goal of increasing the trade volume to 60 billion dollars. He stated that new steps are being planned to take the economic relations between the two countries to higher levels.

At the press conference, Merz said that they want to cooperate with Turkey in the process of returning migrants who have come to Germany illegally. He emphasized that the migration crisis should be managed in a coordinated manner between the two countries.

Pointing to the development of joint projects in the field of defense industry, Merz touched upon the importance of mutual investments and technology sharing in this area.

REGIONAL ISSUES ON THE AGENDA

It was reported that Syria, the Ukraine-Russia war, and Gaza were also on the agenda during the meeting. Merz stated that a fair and lasting solution to the war in Ukraine can only be achieved through diplomatic means.

Touching upon the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Merz said, "I conveyed our views on the two-state solution, which is the key to preventing this tragedy from happening again and to lasting peace in the region."

The German Chancellor stated that Turkey is an indispensable partner in European security policies and said, "We are planning closer cooperation with Turkey. We are in dialogue with Ankara on many issues, from regional security to energy."

İMAMOĞLU QUESTION

During the meeting, a German journalist touched upon the investigations into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality regarding the European Union membership process.

Erdoğan's response to the journalist was as follows:

'We are comfortable and at peace regarding these approaches. We said the following regarding the Copenhagen criteria. The Copenhagen criteria are not a negative approach for us. We have our Ankara criteria in contrast to this. We open up to Europe with the Ankara criteria. Because Turkey is not an ordinary European or Asian country. Turkey is a democratic country that operates and is operated by this process better than anywhere else in the world, in Europe, in Asia, at every point, and it has no problems regarding this issue.

You had a question about the IMM (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality). No matter who is in which position, you cannot trample on the law in a state of law. If you do, the judicial authorities in a judicial state must do what is necessary. If they do not, then corruption, theft, and all kinds of wrongdoing will run rampant. As a matter of fact, the process in Istanbul has proceeded in this way, and currently, the judiciary is continuing this process and doing what is necessary.

The issue of referees has recently emerged, and again, what is happening on football fields; while all this is happening, a state cannot follow this with its hands tied. It must do what is necessary, and this is currently being done, and when the citizens see this development in the stands, they are now very happy.'