Merkel in Turkey: Reconciling Different Views

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on her first official visit to Turkey since the failed coup attempt in that country in July, reports Reuters, Patria reports. The goal of Merkel's visit is to improve interstate relations shaken by differences in views on the issues of fighting terrorism and freedom of speech.

During the one-day visit to Ankara, Merkel will hold talks with President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, and a meeting with representatives of the main secular and pro-Kurdish opposition parties is also expected, official sources claim.

Issues on the agenda should also include Turkey's migration agreement with Europe, cooperation in the fight against ISIL in Syria, intelligence sharing, as well as human rights issues.

The views of these two NATO members diverged at one point regarding the campaign to punish dissidents after the failed coup, as well as Turkey's claims, which Berlin rejected, that Germany is protecting Kurdish and far-left militants.

One of the contentious issues also concerns intelligence data collected by the German Tornado combat aircraft operating from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey.

Germany refused to allow Ankara non-selective access to the data due to concerns that Turkey might use the data in its campaign against Kurdish militants.  

In doing so, Germany rejected accusations that it is protecting militants associated with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been acting as a rebel group in Turkey for thirty years, and which the EU and the US consider a terrorist group.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Veyi Kaynak told the state news agency Anadolu that Germany "provided shelter to terrorists even when Turkey was in the most difficult situation." He also stated that Berlin is protecting members of the "Gulen terrorist organization" (FETO), the name Ankara uses for Fethullah Gulen's network, which it blames for preparing the coup last July. Gulen has denied any involvement.

At the same time, German media reported on Saturday that about 40 high-ranking Turkish officers employed at a NATO base in Germany have requested asylum.

The Turkish Minister of Defense appealed to Berlin to reject the asylum applications, warning that anything else could jeopardize their interstate relations. Official Berlin made it clear in response that the applications would be considered individually.  

More than 100,000 people have been dismissed or suspended from the police, military, administration, and private sector on suspicion of supporting Gulen. Around 40,000 people are in prison awaiting trial.

The government's repressive measures have concerned human rights institutions, and allies like Germany, who fear that Erdogan used the coup attempt to crack down on dissenters. Turkey responded that certain measures were necessary to protect democracy and eradicate those who supported the coup, writes Reuters.