Germany sought on Saturday to reassure the country's Turkish descent citizens it would stand by them as a row with Ankara escalates, saying they were not the target of changes to government policy on Turkey.
Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel wrote an open letter to the 3.5 million Germans of Turkish descent, which was published in both Turkish and German in Bild daily paper. He said that the government wants to let them know that "the friendship between Germans and Turks is a great treasure."
Gabriel on Thursday issued an unusually hard-hitting statement in which he warned German firms against investment in Turkey and spoke of an "overhaul" of the country's entire relationship.
"We must protect our citizens," he wrote. "However difficult the political relations between Germany and Turkey, one thing is clear: you, people of Turkish roots in Germany belong here with us, whether you have a German passport or not." "We have always striven for good relations with Turkey, because we know that good relations are important for you (German Turks)," Gabriel added in the letter.
'BERLIN'S TURKEY STANCE UNDERSTANDABLE'
Germany's tough stance on fraying relations with Turkey is "understandable," not least given Ankara's detention of human rights activists including German nationals, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said in an interview published Saturday.
"I think we have shown great patience with Turkey. It seems not to appreciate that. The reaction of Germany is understandable," Hahn told German daily Die Welt. "The most recent arrests of human rights campaigners sadly confirm the destructive course Turkey has taken since the coup attempt, which we have firmly condemned," said Hahn.
