Germany, Turkey to discuss İncirlik air base rift for two more weeks: Report

ISTANBUL

AFP photo

The German government will hold discussions with the Turkish government for another two weeks over the resolution of the latest refusal of a German delegation’s visit to the İncirlik air base in the southern province of Adana, Der Spiegel reported on May 27.

On May 15, Turkey rejected a group of German lawmakers’ request to visit the base on the grounds that Berlin granted asylum to former Turkish officers who allegedly took part in the July 2016 failed coup attempt. The move immediately prompted Germany to discuss whether to remove its troops stationed at the base unless the crisis is resolved, with German officials naming Jordan as one of the alternatives.

Quoting officials from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the German defense center, the German weekly reported that two more weeks of talks would be held with Ankara and then a decision will be made whether to withdraw the German troops at the base.

However, internally neither the two ministries nor the Chancellery hope that the discussions will come to a solution, it said.

Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara would certainly allow the German lawmakers’ visit to the base on condition that the list of visitors sent by the German foreign minister is seen suitable, as it was in the past. However, he also noted that sometimes there are lawmakers who “openly supported terrorists.” 

“Sometimes there may be those who openly support terrorists among German lawmakers ... We expressed that some who openly support terrorists and almost act together with them will not be welcomed. Right now, our foreign ministers will discuss the issue with each other and we will take a step accordingly,” Erdoğan said on May 26 while returning to Turkey after meeting with top EU officials and leaders in Brussels.