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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that Turkish-German cooperation with strong foundations and multilayered relationship networks is "indispensable" for the security of Europe and neighboring regions, following his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"Strong foundations and the multilayered relationship network of Turkish-German cooperation is indispensable for the security of Europe and our neighboring geographies. We have confirmed this once again today," Erdogan stated during a joint press conference following Merz's visit.
Erdogan welcomed Merz and his delegation to Türkiye, saying, "Chancellor Merz, as chancellor, is making his first visit to our country. I am very pleased to host you. On behalf of all of us, I welcome you."
"In today's talks, as two close NATO allies, we addressed our bilateral relations and international issues on the basis of our common interests. We also expressed our expectations regarding full EU membership, which we see as a strategic target," Erdogan stated.
"Türkiye's determined will on this matter deserves a proper response from the union. If Türkiye receives the response it deserves, we can make significant progress in a very short time," he added.
"Looking at developments in our region and the world, I believe that the strategic importance of Türkiye-EU relations will be better understood," he noted.
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Erdogan commemorated the 64th anniversary of the labor force agreement signed between West Germany and Türkiye.
"64 years ago, our brothers and sisters went to Germany with suitcases in hand and longing for their homeland. Today, with a population reaching 3.5 million, they have made great contributions to Germany's development in all areas," President Erdogan stated.
"In our meeting with our valued friend, we confirmed once again that the Turkish community living in Germany is our shared value and wealth. I emphasized the importance we attach to protecting the achievements of our brothers and sisters in Germany over the years," the Turkish president said.
"In this context, I emphasized the importance we attach to combating xenophobia and Islamophobia that have been increasing in Europe and reaching racist levels in some places. We have always supported our brothers and sisters abroad to preserve their cultures, identities and ancient values while integrating into the countries where they live. Our support will continue," he noted.
"Türkiye-Germany economic and trade relations continue on a positive course. Germany is Türkiye's largest trading partner in Europe. Our trade volume has reached $50 billion. We aim to increase it to $60 billion in the near term," Erdogan noted.
"In this regard, we evaluated with Chancellor Merz the issue of defense cooperation that will take trade and mutual investments to the next level," he stated.
"In light of changing security conditions in Europe, we need to move past the difficulties experienced in the past in the procurement of defense industry products and focus on joint projects," the Turkish President said, adding, "We welcome with satisfaction the positive steps Germany has recently taken in this area, such as the process of providing Eurofighter aircraft."
"Given Türkiye's momentum in the defense industry, we can see that we have very extensive cooperation opportunities with Germany," he said, noting, "We can further strengthen this cooperation on the basis of a win-win understanding."
"With Chancellor Merz, we also addressed developments in our neighbor Syria. In the 11 months since the revolution, under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria has made serious progress on the path to permanent peace, tranquility and economic development," Erdogan noted.
"We believe that this process will accelerate with the lifting of sanctions. Preserving the country's territorial integrity and unity, ensuring the welfare and well-being of all people of the Syrian people is our priority target," he added.
"In this regard, we attach great importance to the implementation of the March 10 agreement and we are carefully monitoring the messages given in this direction. We are aware of the importance Germany attaches to working in coordination with us on Syria," Erdogan stated.
"We also exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war. We believe it is important to continue diplomatic efforts for a fair and lasting solution to the war," Erdogan said.
"We also exchanged views on regional and global issues. As Türkiye, we brought the genocide in Gaza to the international agenda from day one. We made intense efforts to secure the ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to the region. I conveyed our views on preventing these atrocities from happening again and on the two-state solution, which is the key to permanent peace in the region," he added.
"First, I stated that in the reconstruction process, like ensuring uninterrupted delivery of aid to the region, everyone must shoulder their responsibility," Erdogan said.
In response to a journalist's question, Erdogan addressed the EU membership criteria by stating, "First of all, currently in Türkiye, we are comfortable and at ease with these approaches. Because we have always said this on the Copenhagen criteria. The Copenhagen criteria are not a negative approach process for us. If Türkiye is approached from the Copenhagen criteria perspective, we also have our Ankara criteria."
"We open ourselves to Europe and the world with our Ankara criteria. Because Türkiye is not an ordinary European or Asian country," Erdogan stated, adding, "Türkiye is a country of democracy that manages this process best in every point in Europe and Asia in the world and has no problems with this."
Addressing a question about the suspended mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan stated: "First of all, whoever is in whatever position, in a state of law, you cannot trample on the law. Whoever you are, if you trample on the law, then the judicial authority in the state of law must do what is necessary. If it does not, then corruption, theft and all kinds of wrongs take their course."
"Exactly the same process has worked in Istanbul and currently the judiciary is enforcing this process as it should and is doing what is necessary," Erdogan said.
"For example, recently there was a referee incident and in that referee incident, what happens in football stadiums and while all these are happening, a state with hands tied cannot follow this," he added.
"What is necessary must be done and this is now being done and when citizens see this development in the stands, they are quite happy. People have started to say, 'what is happening, what is this,'" the Turkish president added.
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