Germany puts most arms exports to Turkey on hold

On Monday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that Germany would put on hold most weapon deliveries to Turkey
Gabriel said there were only a few exemptions such as if the requested exports were about vehicles, not weapons.
Tuesday, 12 September 2017 19:00

Germany has put all major arms exports to Turkey on hold due to the "deteriorating human rights situation" in the country, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday.

"We have put on hold all big requests (for arms exports) that Turkey has sent to us, and these are really not a few," Gabriel said during a panel discussion organised by German business daily Handelsblatt.

Gabriel said there were only a few exemptions such as if the government's decision was tied to international agreements or if the requested exports were about vehicles, not weapons.

MERKEL REJECTS TOTAL BAN ON ARMS EXPORTS

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday rejected a total ban on arms exports to Turkey, saying that such sales had already been restricted somewhat, but Turkey remained a key ally in the fight against Islamic State, Reuters reported.

Merkel told broadcaster NDR that Germany would decide on arms sales requests from Turkey on a case-by-case basis. She also said she saw no reason to impose a travel warning for Germans travelling to Turkey, but said Berlin would keep its options open, the report added.

'GERMAN BLOCK ON ARMS SALES TO TURKEY WEAKENS ANTI-TERRORISM FIGHT'

Turkey’s EU affairs minister Ömer Çelik said Tuesday that Germany’s suspension of weapon exports to Turkey will damage counterterrorism efforts in general as well as pose a threat to EU security.

"This [to put arms exports to Turkey on hold] will weaken Turkey's anti-terror fight, which will, in turn, pose a threat to Germany and Europe's security … Terror groups such as Daesh [Islamic State] and the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] are now active across EU capitals. This should not be forgotten: with this effective struggle Turkey is protecting its borders. However, at the same time it protects security and borders of the EU," Çelik said.

Gabriel's comments about stopping arms exports to Turkey are not appropriate for a foreign minister, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on Tuesday.