German Foreign ministry summons Turkish ambassador
by AA
May 31, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by AA
May 31, 2014 12:00 am
BERLIN — The German Foreign Ministry has summoned Turkey's ambassador in Berlin to convey 'discomfort' over the Turkish prime minister's recent remarks in retaliation to a German political leader criticizing his visit to Germany last week ahead of European Union parliamentary elections.
Hüseyin Avni Karslioglu was 'invited' Wednesday, German ministry officials told the Anadolu Agency, noting that it was not with the intention of a issuing a diplomatic warning.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly criticized Cem Özdemir, co-chairperson of the Greens party, after he said Erdoğan's visit to Germany on the eve of EU elections would 'hurt Turkey's relations with the EU.'
"Ambassador Karslıoğlu was summoned to the Ministry following the recent surprising and discomforting remarks against an important German politician by some Turkish government officials," the German Foreign Ministry said.
It was 'harmful' to deliver disparaging remarks against an important politician who had always urged good relations between Turkey and Germany, the ministry added.
Following Erdoğan's rally in Cologne last Saturday, Özdemir, who is of Turkish origin, said Erdoğan's visit in Germany lost him Berlin's support. He had earlier advised the prime minister against taking the trip.
Earlier this week, Erdoğan gave a harsh response to Özdemir's words, saying: "You should know your limits and first of all respect the prime minister of the country you belong to. You are nobody to tell me whether or not I should come to Germany. Despite harsh criticism from both co-chairpersons of the German Greens Party, we have always kept our doors open for them in Turkey."
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