Jakarta –
A heated debate took place between German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The two debated on a variety of issues, from the Turkish-Greek dispute to Kurdish militants.
As reported by Reuters and AFP, Saturday (30/7/2022), the two debated during a press conference. The moment of debate was shown in front of journalists.
The press conference was held in Istanbul on Friday (29/7) local time. The activity started an hour later than scheduled and lasted for an hour. Local journalists were present at the press conference. The atmosphere of the press conference was shrouded in tension.
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Policy Criticism
The press conference started with calm statements by Baerbock and Cavusoglu, but then became increasingly tense with the two criticizing each other’s policies.
Baerbock, who had talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias before visiting Turkey for the first time, suddenly discussed the dispute between Ankara and Athens. While in Athens, Baerbock had defended Greece by calling the Greek islands Greek territory, and no one had the right to question it.
It is known that Turkey accuses Greece of illegally arming their archipelago — some of which are visible from the Turkish coast. In response, Athens accused Ankara of planning a provocative military attack and threatening war.
“We cannot solve the problem of the eastern Mediterranean by increasing tensions,” Baerbock said while speaking next to Cavusoglu to reporters in Istanbul.
“Why do you turn a blind eye to Greece’s unlawful actions,” Cavusolgu said in reply to Baerbock.
Cavusoglu says Germany is not neutral in Turkey-Greece-Cyprus dispute
Cavusoglu later said Germany had lost its neutral stance in mediating disputes between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. He added that Germany should listen to all parties without prejudice.
“Third countries, including Germany, should not be a tool of provocation and propaganda, especially by Greece and the Greek Cypriot side,” he stressed.
Turkey and Germany forged warm relations during the era of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who served before Chancellor Olaf Scholz. However, Baerbock, who is the leader of the Green Party in Germany, is more critical of Turkey and discussed a number of issues related to Turkey which he called ‘difficult’.
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