Erdoğan’s call to not to vote for Merkel, Schulz, Greens only aimed at Turkish-origin voters: Deputy PM
YOZGAT
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Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on Aug. 19 that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call on Turkish citizens in Germany not to vote for Merkel, Schulz and Greens only aimed at Turkish-origin voters not other German citizens.“This is very clear but there are statements (from Germany) that are very disrespectful, insolent and immodest. I want to express that I condemn those statements and disrespectful discourse,” Bozdağ told reporters in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat.
“German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel is evaluating the issue as an intervention regarding the sovereign rights. It is out of question that Turkey is intervening in the sovereign rights of Germany,” he said.
Bozdağ also said German politicians’ stance during the April 16 referendum was very clear, backing “no” votes for the constitutional changes while accusing Berlin of intervening in the Turkey’s elections and its domestic affairs.
He stated that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was clearly being protected by Berlin and the country clearly became a haven for the members of Gülen network.
“All of those bear the consequence that the relationship between Turkey and Germany are negatively affected. Those who should question their words, actions and stance are German officials and politicians. There is nothing that Turkey is doing but there are stances against Turkey,” Bozdağ said.
“You know there were previously notices about former prosecutors such as Celal Kara and Zekeriya Öz that they had been seen in Germany. Turkey had demands but unfortunately a positive response could not be given to Turkey’s expectations. In fact, they did not. On the issue of Adil Öksüz, a positive response has not been given so far. Our foreign ministry conveyed Turkey's expectations via a diplomatic note,” Bozdağ said.
“We will continue to be the follower of our expectations,” he added.
Earlier this week, Ankara had issued a diplomatic note to Berlin asking whether Öksüz was in Germany.
The diplomatic note delivered via the Turkish Embassy in Berlin mentioned recent news reports in the Turkish media suggesting that Öksüz was hiding in Germany.
It had urged German authorities “to investigate the accuracy of the news reports, and for the detention and extradition of the coup plotter in the event of the reports’ accuracy.”
Öksüz, whose whereabouts have been unknown since July 2016, was caught while trying to escape from the Akıncı air base on the night of the failed coup attempt but was released a short while later by a court.