Disagreements continue between Germany and Turkey over Incirlik visits
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Lawmakers in Germany have insisted that their military forces in Turkey should be withdrawn if Ankara continues to deny German parliamentarians permission to visit them.
“As lawmakers who send soldiers to places, we must know where they are, how they are and be able to talk to the soldiers,” the German Green party’s co-leader Cem Ozdemir told the German ARD broadcaster.
“If that is not possible in Turkey, then the soldiers must come back to Germany,” he added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also told the German ZDF broadcaster that, “It’s important that our ministers can travel to Incirlik and visit our soldiers.”
Ankara had banned German lawmakers from visiting Turkish military personnel deployed to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, saying they only allow military and technical personnel to visit their military facilities.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen visited the base last week, she was quoted by Der Spiegel saying that she “did not ask for permission for visits.”
Germany currently has 250 personnel based in Incirlik along with six Panavia Tornado reconnaissance jet fighters (used to locate positions belong to Islamic State militants in neighbouring Syria) and a tanker.
Relations between Turkey and Germany have been tense in recent months following the German parliaments decision in June to recognize the Armenian Genocide, an event Turkey officially denies ever happened.
“As lawmakers who send soldiers to places, we must know where they are, how they are and be able to talk to the soldiers,” the German Green party’s co-leader Cem Ozdemir told the German ARD broadcaster.
“If that is not possible in Turkey, then the soldiers must come back to Germany,” he added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also told the German ZDF broadcaster that, “It’s important that our ministers can travel to Incirlik and visit our soldiers.”
Ankara had banned German lawmakers from visiting Turkish military personnel deployed to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, saying they only allow military and technical personnel to visit their military facilities.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen visited the base last week, she was quoted by Der Spiegel saying that she “did not ask for permission for visits.”
Germany currently has 250 personnel based in Incirlik along with six Panavia Tornado reconnaissance jet fighters (used to locate positions belong to Islamic State militants in neighbouring Syria) and a tanker.
Relations between Turkey and Germany have been tense in recent months following the German parliaments decision in June to recognize the Armenian Genocide, an event Turkey officially denies ever happened.