German Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen extended their support for Turkey's long sought bid to join the European Union, German weekly Der Spiegel reported on Friday.
In recent years, the current German administration showed reluctance in supporting Turkey's EU bid and in some occasions Chancellor Angela Merkel publicly said there should be an alternative status for Turkey within the EU. However, the relations between the two countries grew stronger after Berlin and Ankara became two top players in solving the EU's migrant crisis.
Merkel has had three official visits to Turkey in the past few months. Maas told Der Spiegel that Turkey's EU bid should not be confused with the refugee crisis and added that as long as Ankara fulfils its obligations, full membership to the 28-country bloc should not be matter of a debate.
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