Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel claimed that the sanctions imposed upon the Erdoğan regime are working. Gabriel said: “Turkey is responding to economic pressure, but that gives me no joy. Innocent people are still imprisoned.”
German human rights activist Peter Steudtner who attended a cyber security workshop for human rights in Büyükada, Istanbul had been arrested along with a group of human rights defenders. Following Steudtner’s arrest, Germany had announced a series of sanctions against the Erdoğan regime in early July.
Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel spoke to the weekly journal Stern and commented on the sanctions against Turkey and the most recent situation of the relationship between Berlin and Ankara. Gabriel spoke to the Stern editor in chief Christian Krug and made harsh criticisms against the Ankara administration.
“THE MAIN ISSUE IS TURKEY MOVING AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY”
Gabriel said the main issue that led to a deterioration of the relationship has not been solved and added: “The main issue is Turkey moving away from democracy, as long as that continues the relationships won’t improve.” German Foreign Minister Gabriel pointed to the conditions of the people imprisoned by the Erdoğan regime and continued:
“Innocent people are still imprisoned, 9 of whom are German citizens. Turkey enacting the much talked about death penalty will end the relationship between Turkey and Europe. The Turkish government is responding to economic pressure. Sometimes this pressure is necessary. But this gives me no joy, on the contrary, I am in deep sorrow.”
Gabriel said the hotel owners and workers affected by the travel warning issued for German citizens visiting Turkey are “friends of Germany” and added that he doesn’t want these people to suffer damages.
