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Annalena Baerbock and her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Photo: OZAN KOSE / AFP
After the open dispute between Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Istanbul, the Turkish community in Germany criticized the way they were treated.
"I would have liked certain issues to have been discussed diplomatically behind closed doors," said Gökay Sofuoğlu, the chair of the German editorial network.
“In any case, one should find other ways of getting into conversation with one another.”
The two had "left the language of diplomacy" and "each formulated messages for domestic politics".
"We expect that the population of Turkish origin will not suffer under these conditions," said Sofuoğlu.
Unfortunately, this has happened in the past in similar confrontations.
Sofuoğlu also praised the Green politician's first visit to Turkey: "I see a certain paradigm shift with Ms. Baerbock." He added: "She was visiting the opposition for the first time.
I think that's good.
Because the opposition can always form the next government.
That's why you should cultivate relationships."
Turkish opposition praises clear words
The joint press conference by Baerbock and Çavuşoğlu on Friday in Istanbul turned into an open confrontation about the expected Turkish offensive in northern Syria, the imprisonment of opposition leader Osman Kavala in Turkey and, above all, the island dispute between Greece and Turkey.
(See a video of the press conference here.)
On the second day of her visit, Baerbock met with opposition figures in the capital, Ankara.
Opposition politicians praised the German Foreign Minister for her clear words the day before: "Direct statements and confrontation are sometimes unavoidable, not just necessary," said the co-chair of the pro-Kurdish party HDP, Mithat Sancar, after a meeting with Baerbock.
The Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu always speaks a very clear language at such meetings, Sancar continues.
This is now the first time that his German counterpart has behaved so clearly.
"That was fine," he said.
And added that it was a "necessary confrontation".
kko/dpa