The invasion of the Turks in northern Syria has caused harsh criticism internationally. The German government also demanded an end to the Turkish offensive in recent days - but without success. Now, the Greens want to increase the pressure on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and are in favor of a temporary end to arms sales to Ankara.
The exports would have to be "stopped immediately," said party leader Annalena Baerbock the newspapers of the editorial network Germany. "Already granted permits must be revoked." Baerbock called for more action to put pressure on Turkey.
For example, no more so-called Hermes guarantees should be issued for the state with which the Federal Government hedges economic activities abroad. In addition, the EU should put the negotiations on an extension of the Customs Union on ice so long, "until Turkey returns to a course of democracy and the rule of law."
Turkish troops want to take Syrian border town
Turkey started its long-threatened military offensive against the Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria on Wednesday. According to the Ankara government, the Turkish army captured the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain on Saturday morning. The city is under control of the Turkish troops, said the Ministry of Defense.
The aim of the offensive is the Kurdish militia YPG, which controls a large area on the Syrian side of the border. Turkey sees in it an offshoot of the banned Kurdish workers' party PKK in Turkey and thus a terrorist organization. It wants to set up a so-called security zone along the border and to settle there Syrian refugees who currently live in Turkey. (Read here an analysis of Erdogan's plans in northern Syria.)
Baerbock accused Erdogan that the security zone was evidently an advanced justification. It is rather about "to take action against the majority Kurdish population in northern Syria," said the Green Party leader. Erdogan continues to fuel the war in Syria, "causing additional suffering and massive displacement in a region that is already a powder keg anyway".
Worry in imprisoned IS supporters
The actions of the Turkish military have also raised the question of what happens to the foreign fighters of the jihadist militia "Islamic State" (IS) detained in the Syrian Kurdish areas. The Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) said to the newspapers of the spark media group, a transfer of German nationals could "come into question only in an orderly procedure".
It must be excluded, "that security risks arise," said Herrmann. "It is important to examine each individual case carefully."