Category: Germany

With an estimated number of at least 2.1 million Turks in Germany, they form the largest ethnic minority. The vast majority are found in what used to be West Germany. Berlin, Frankfurt,Hamburg, Rhine-Ruhr (Cologne, Duisburg and Dortmund) have large Turkish communities. The state with the largest Turkish population is North Rhine-Westphalia.

German MEP slams Ankara over Cyprus drills

Reaction shows Turkey not seriously interested in membership, Brok says

German MEP Elmar Brok has condemned Turkey's warnings and threats against EU member Cyprus.

Ankara’s response to Nicosia’s natural gas and oil exploration off the Mediterranean island’s southern coast shows Turkey is not seriously interested in becoming a European Union member, a German center-right MEP, said on Thursday.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Elmar Brok, who is foreign policy spokesman of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament, condemned Turkey’s warnings and threats against EU member Cyprus which is set to take over the bloc’s rotating presidency in mid 2012.

“This clearly shows that Turkey is not serious about its membership candidacy,” Brok told German radio.

Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Noble Energy. The Houston-based firm has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in Block 12, an area within Nicosia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Greek-speaking government has signed EEZ agreements with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible energy reserves in the area.

Turkey, which does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus in the island’s south, opposes any drilling, insisting the profits from any discoveries must be distributed between the two communities on the island.

The dispute has also deepened Turkey’s rift with Israel, once a close economic and military partner.

“[Turkey’s] objective is to become a regional power without any EU commitments; or it would not [act in ways that] provoke the bloc’s future presidency – what is more without any reason for doing so,” Brok said.

Turkey has defied statements from the US, EU and Russia and sent Piri Reis, an aging seismic research vessel, near Block 12 where drilling has already started.

Brok’s remarks followed a vehement protest by DISY MEP Eleni Theocharous to Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

“Can such behavior from a candidate member be tolerated? Will you Mr Fule make mention of Turkey’s behavior in your [Turkish progress evaluation] reports? How much longer can you tolerate such behavior against a small and powerless state? Must the rest of Cyprus be occupied before the European Parliament does something about this?,” Theocharous said.

Fule said the tiff will not affect Cyprus’s scheduled presidency, while condemning Turkey’s reaction to the drilling.

“There are rules and laws. If Turkey chooses not to respect them and it wants to freeze its ties with the EU during Cyprus’s presidency, that is its own problem,” Fule said.

Ankara earlier this month warned it would freeze relations with Brussels if Cyprus is given the EU presidency next year.

ekathimerini.com , Thursday September 29, 2011 (15:12)

via ekathimerini.com | German MEP slams Ankara over Cyprus drills.

September 30, 2011
Theologians in Kreuzberg

The Kreuzberg neighbourhood of Berlin is often referred to as “little Istanbul “. It’s famous for its Turkish Muslim population.Curiously it’s also where the Holy See’s representative to Germany, Archbishop Jean Claude Périsset has his residence, so pushing it a bit one could call this compound a ” little Vatican” of sorts.

Also because it’s where Benedict XVI stayed on the first night of the first State Visit to his homeland .

So when it came to choosing a venue for the Pope to meet with Muslim representatives on the morning of Friday 23rd of September , the location for this encounter seemed an obvious one.

And so at 9 am sharp the meeting began in this City of Berlin where minarets and domed roofs have hit the city’s sky line . The atmosphere was cordial and there were 15 representatives of the Muslim Community in Germany, the largest numerically in Western Europe after France and Britain. And it was as encounter between theologians, as the Muslim group was led by a Professor of Islamic theology Mouhanad Khorchide.

Speaking to the Pope , the Professor pointed to the fact that here in Germany there’s an ongoing process to establish Islamic Theology as a subject at German Universities. But he also highlighted the Catholic-Muslim Forum, launched in the Vatican in 2008 which he described as a major platform for Muslim-Christian dialogue , stressing the love of God and one’s fellows as the central binding link between Islam and Christianity .

And in his response to Professor Khorchide, Benedict XVI too highlighted some binding elements between the two faiths : “It seems to me, the Holy Father said, that there can be fruitful collaboration between Christians and Muslims. In the process, we help to build a society that differs in many respects from what we brought with us from the past. As believers, setting out from our respective convictions, we can offer an important witness in many key areas of life in society. I am thinking, for example, of the protection of the family based on marriage, respect for life in every phase of its natural course or the promotion of greater social justice.”

This meeting with the representatives of the well established Muslim community, mainly from Turkey, which represents a younger group than the mainstream German and since 9.11, unlike in the 1960’s and 70’s when integration went more smoothly, now causes concern for many who fear fundamentalist groups, marked the last of Benedict XVI’s appointments in Berlin.

A successful beginning to this four day official visit home for this Pope who seems to have charmed the previously aggressive media. The” Frankfurter Allgmeine Zeitung”, even went so far as to describe his keynote address at the Bundestag, the Federal Parliament: the “speech of the century” . Meanwhile on Friday his journey continues south of Berlin , in Erfurt as he flies to the Land of Luther.

via Vatican Radio – Theologians in Kreuzberg.

September 28, 2011
German politician warns Turkey over Israel, Cyprus threats

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

Brussels diplomat urges Turkey and Israel to foster better relations.

BERLIN – The head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, Deputy Ruprecht Polenz, reprimanded Turkey for its jingoistic policies toward Israel and Cyprus, according to a report in a Turkish daily on Tuesday.

Istanbul’s Hürriyet Daily News quoted Polenz as saying on Monday that Turkey’s statements against Israel recall the language of “Arab dictators.”

“This attitude [of Turkey] may appear to generate support in the Arab world.

However, anti-Israel emotions have been used by Arab dictators for a long time and it’s questionable if that’s worked out,” he said.

“Israel and Turkey’s worsening relations are of serious concern for us,” and Germany is of the view that “two of its friends were fighting,” Polenz said, according to Hürriyet.

According to a report in the Hamburger Abendblatt, Polenz, a deputy from the Christian Democratic Union, the party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, criticized deficits in Turkey’s application of religious freedom. Polenz took Turkey to task for failing to allow Christians to practice their religion.

Bundestag deputy Volker Kauder (CDU) said mosques are permitted to be built in Germany and Christians should be allowed to build churches in Turkey.

Hürriyet cited remarks from a Brussels-based diplomat, Giles Portman, who serves as an adviser on Turkey at the European Union External Action Service.

“We want to see Turkey and Israel improve their bilateral relations,” Portman said. “We want Turkey to play a role in the Middle East peace process.

Turkey has a capability for that if it has relations with Israel.”

In another stinging remark on Turkey’s aggressive foreign policy, Polenz asked, “Why doesn’t Turkey practice its zero problem policy on Cyprus?” according to the Turkish paper.

Polenz appears to have alluded to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s declaration that Turkey has “zero problems with neighbors.”

With a view toward Turkey’s application to join the European Union, Polenz suggested that Ankara reevaluate its Cyprus policy and permit Greek vessels from Cyprus to dock at Turkish ports.

The remarks were unusually strong for Polenz, who favors Turkey’s admission to the EU. His position contradicts that of Merkel and many of his party’s deputies, who favor a loose association membership, but not full EU rights for Turkey.

via German politician warns Turkey ov… JPost – Diplomacy & Politics.

September 23, 2011
Merkel hosts Turkey’s president for talks in Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Abdullah Gul met in Berlin on Tuesday for talks aimed at airing issues touching on integration, EU accession and ties with Israel.

A raft of complex issues was on the table Tuesday when German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Berlin. Up for discussion was the sharp deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel, as well as the long-standing conservative unease in Germany over Turkish integration.

According to a message from government spokesman Steffen Seibert sent following the talks over the networking site Twitter, the Turkish president agreed with Merkel that good German language skills were necessary for successful integration in Germany.

Seibert tweeted that both Merkel and Gul acknowledged “that the German language should be learned early and as well as possible,” according to the AP news agency.

Earlier this year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the some 3 million Turks living in Germany to integrate but not assimilate. He advised Turkish immigrants to teach their children the Turkish language before German.

Gul touched on the subject ahead of his three-day German tour, telling public broadcaster ZDF that German immigration law violated human rights. He said the legislation was unfair because it prohibited Turkish citizens from joining a spouse in Germany unless they could prove knowledge of the German language.

Contentious UN report

German President Christian Wulff, right, and Turkish President Abdullah GulBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Gul, left, met with Christian Wulff on MondayAlso on the table at the chancellery was the recent flare-up in tensions between Turkey and Israel over a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year which ended in the deaths of eight Turkish activists and one Turkish American.

Turkey has expelled the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and suspended military ties with the country in the wake of a United Nations report certifying that the Jewish nation’s deadly raid was legal, despite it being heavy-handed.

The issue is of particular importance to Germany as both Turkey and Israel are key regional partners.

EU accession

The closed-door talks were also thought to have touched on relations between Turkey and the European Union. From the start of the visit, Gul has reiterated Turkey’s desire to join the 27-nation bloc. Merkel opposes Turkish accession and has only offered what she calls a “strategic partnership,” which Turkey rejects.

Complicating matters, Turkey over the weekend threatened to freeze relations with the EU if it went ahead with allowing the divided island of Cyprus to take over the rotating six-month presidency of the bloc next year.

Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 and was due to be handed the presidency in July 2012 after Denmark. But Turkey said it first wants to see a resolution to a standoff between Cyprus’ Turkish north and its Greek south, adding that a Cypriot EU presidency would “cause a major disruption” in relations. Turkey does not recognize Cyprus as a sovereign country.

Following the talks with Merkel, Gul was to travel to the western city of Osnabrück for a second meeting with German President Christian Wulff. There he was scheduled to visit the provincial city’s historic town hall, at which the 1648 Peace of Westphalia was signed, bringing to a close the Thirty Years’ War in Europe.

Author: Darren Mara (dpa, AP)

Editor: Martin Kuebler

September 21, 2011
Turkey’s president seeks to forge European ties on Germany visit

Turkish President Abdullah Gül will have a full agenda when he begins a visit to Germany on Sunday. A rapidly changing Middle East, and Turkey’s EU bid will be central topics, says Islam studies expert Udo Steinbach.

Gül's eyes are focused on Europe ahead of his visit

Turkish President Abdullah Gül is to arrive in Berlin on Sunday, September 18, where he will be received by his German counterpart, President Christian Wulff. During his four-day visit, he is scheduled to deliver an address at Berlin’s Humboldt University and also to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Ahead of the visit, Gül said Turkey was committed to pursuing membership in the European Union, despite opposition from some quarters in Germany and elsewhere on the continent.

Deutsche Welle spoke to Islam expert Guido Steinbach about the issues bedeviling German-Turkish ties.

Deutsche Welle: President Gül will be spending four days in Germany, a relatively long time for a state visit. Is this an attempt at convergence between the two countries?

Udo Steinbach: Yes, certainly, for Germany and Turkey have several issues to discuss. President Gül already hinted at one of the main topics with his earlier statements that Turks living in Germany should speak perfect German without an accent. In other words, the issue of Turkish migrants in Germany will be a main topic.

The other main issue will be how the two countries see the developments in northern Africa and the Middle East. For Turkey it is clear: without Europe, it is limited in what it can achieve. Europe, too, is aware that Turkey can be a strategic partner in this rapidly changing climate. The two countries must find a mutual strategy in northern Africa and the Middle East.

But haven’t relations between Turkey and Europe cooled? Ankara’s EU accession negotiations are stalled, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel increasingly speaks of a mere “privileged partnership” between the two.

Yes, and Turkey has reason enough to be frustrated over the way its bid for EU accession has been handled. But the fact that Mr. Gül has set aside four days for his trip to Germany should provide enough time to discuss this point – how can Turkish-European relations be reshaped in the light of new facts that have arisen in the past months. And also in light of the fact that Turkey and the European Union have more mutual interests in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East than ever before. We can no longer afford the indifference that has crept in between the two sides.

Udo SteinbachBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Steinbach says Gül is one of Turkey’s ‘last Europeans’

What future role does President Gül see his country playing in Europe?

Mr. Gül is perhaps the last real convinced “European” among Turkey’s politicians. When it comes to Prime Minister Erdogan, I certainly have my reservations, but Mr. Gül is without a doubt pro-Europe. He has said time and time again that Turkey needs Europe’s support. Above all, perhaps, Gül seeks EU recognition that Turkey’s role in the Middle East is legitimate. Turkey is still waiting for this recognition, and this explains the often erratic way in which Erdogan and his foreign minister have acted in the Middle East.

You say at the same time that Europe also needs to move towards Turkey: What areas in particular?

There is currently a dominant scepticism that Turkey will ever become a member of the European Union. I believe this is a fundamental paradox. For the first time in the history of the EU, we are negotiating with a state over its membership to the union. This state, as with all those involved in the process of EU accession negotiations, must give up a whole lot and also transform itself significantly. And Europe, in the end, says: No, there is no membership for you. We have never seen this happen in such negotiations; it is unprecedented in the case of Turkey. And we must, I believe, vacate this fruitless position.

Do you think Merkel could convince her conservative party of this?

The chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Ruprecht Polenz, who is a key figure in Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has written a book about how important it is for Turkey to join the EU. There are many voices in Merkel’s CDU that recognize Turkey’s importance for Europe. Maybe these voices, together with President Gül, will be able to persuade Merkel to abandon her very formalistic positions on Turkey.

Should the concept of Turkey’s “privileged partnership” be dropped?

Yes, that has to go. It works against the entire process. The Turks have made no secret about their frustration. And this is exactly the point: If, at the end of Mr. Gül’s visit, we manage to forget this “privileged partnership,” then we will have successfully begun a new chapter and taken an important step into a new common future.

Friederika Schulz interviewed Udo Steinbach (glb)

Editor: Sonia Phalnikar

via Turkey’s president seeks to forge European ties on Germany visit | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 17.09.2011.

September 18, 2011
Turkey’s EU Minister inaugurates Berlin office of MUSIAD

Turkey’s EU Minister inaugurates Berlin office of MUSIAD

Speaking at the ceremony, Bagis said that MUSIAD, as a civil society organization, has made crucial contributions to the development of Turkey since the 1990s.

Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis, attended a ceremony to inaugurate the Berlin office of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) on Saturday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bagis said that MUSIAD, as a civil society organization, has made crucial contributions to the development of Turkey since the 1990s.

I have been impressed by the visionary stance of MUSIAD, Bagis said.

Turks living in Germany are proud of Turkey’s achievements. Yet we must do better than that. We need to work together. We need to provide better education to our children. As individuals among the most respected communities of Germany, as individuals who speak German fluently, as individuals who understand the German culture best, and as individuals who have succeeded in full integration without being assimilated, we, the Turks, can contribute more to the development of Germany, Bagis also said.

AA

September 14, 2011