Brussels, 24/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 June, Turkey's minister for foreign affairs, Egemen Bagis, underlined that Turkish statements “have always reflected our hope of channelling the faultless cooperation between Turkey and Germany towards the accession process”. While, in Bagis' view, Berlin said it supported the opening of the chapter on regional policy during a meeting on 12 May 2013, “we have been disappointed by the position which consists of preventing the opening of this chapter”. “We refer to the 'pacta sunt servanda' principle, which is underlined by Germany on every occasion”, Bagis said. “The best option for all the parties would be to transform the friendship”, between Ankara and Berlin “into an opportunity for progress achieved in the accession negotiations”, Bagis added.
Believing that Germany “unfairly” criticised the state of freedom of expression in Turkey, Bagis said that comments made on the German position are part of this freedom, and he regretted the German “intolerance” and “misinterpretation” (our translation throughout).
The Turkish ambassador was summoned by the German foreign affairs minister on 21 June, before the German ambassador was summoned by the Turkish ministry. (CG/transl.fl)