Germany will reconsider its economic policy towards Ankara as well as credit and investment programs over the arrests of human rights activists in Turkey, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Thursday.
"We must now consider how he will change our policies towards Turkey due to an escalation there. I see the following points – first of all, nobody can be recommended to invest in a country where there is no legal security … I do not consider it possible that we, as a federal government, could continue guaranteeing further German investment into the Turkish economy … We need to discuss how we will develop our framework economic relations, what we’ll do with credits, investments, economic aid," Gabriel said.
According to Gabriel, the German government would discuss the proposed measures as well as the other ones and amend them if needed.
"I can't see how we as the German government can continue to guarantee corporate investments in Turkey if there is the threat of arbitrary expropriation for political reasons," he said.
A Turkish court on Tuesday ordered the pre-trial arrest of four leading human rights activists, including Amnesty International's country director, Steudtner and a Swedish trainer, for alleged links to terror groups.
The measures regarding Turkey proposed by Gabriel in relation to the situation there are necessary, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. "The measures presented by the German foreign minister with respect to Turkey are necessary and obligatory amid the current situation," Merkel said, as quoted by German government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
Earlier this week, the German government said it stood in solidarity with Steudtner, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel slamming Ankara and stressing that the detention of activists was unjustified. The German Foreign Ministry also summoned Turkish ambassador over the incident. Berlin demanded the immediate release of Steudtner and consular access to the detainee, saying that linking a human rights activist to terrorism supporters was "absurd."
Gabriel also said that the German Foreign Ministry has tightened its recommendations for German nationals visiting Turkey.
"We see no other choice but to adjust our recommendations on trips and security conditions in Turkey so that the Germans know what can happen to them if they go to Turkey," Gabriel told reporters.
"Everyone can be affected. The most absurd things are possible," he added.
BERLIN VOWS TO DEFEND FIRMS DOING BUSINESS IN TURKEY
It is extremely difficult for German companies to make investments in Turkey under the current political climate in the country, German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said on Thursday.
"If respectable German companies are suddenly put on 'black lists' and branded as supporters of terrorism then this amounts to a climate that makes new business and investments in Turkey extremely difficult," Zypries said. She added: "The German government and I would, of course, defend German companies from totally unjustifiable and incomprehensible accusations. This also applies above all to the employees of German companies."
GERMAN BUSINESS WARNS TURKEY TRADE TO PLUNGE AMID ROW
German business federation BGA, which represents exporters and wholesalers, predicted that "the uncertainty German companies already feel will now rapidly increase". "Many companies have already put their investments on the ice," said its spokesman Andre Schwarz. "We must expect significant declines in exports if the measures being considered are implemented, and investments too will suffer."
The Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) warned that "the uncertainty of the past year is already causing more and more German companies to distance themselves from Turkey". "Turkey is hurting itself."
ANKARA CRITICIZES GERMAN MINISTER
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman İbrahim Kalın condemned Gabriel's suggestions that German companies' investments in Turkey may not continue to be guaranteed.
"We strongly condemn statements that German citizens who travel to Turkey are not safe and that German companies in Turkey have hesitations and concerns," he said. "There is no such thing." "Sending a message... (to Germans) telling them that it's not safe to travel to Turkey is a great political irresponsibility," he added.
In a statement published on Thursday, Turkey's foreign ministry said they have kept Germany's charge d'affaires in Ankara informed of Peter Steudtner's case, adding "the independent Turkish judiciary must be trusted."
"Our relations cannot be pursued based on blackmail and threats but through internationally accepted norms and principles," the Turkish foreign ministry said in the statement, accusing German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel of a "one-sided and distorted approach".
