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PM Erdoğan slams Germany for tolerating terrorists at press conference with Merkel

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed Germany on Tuesday for becoming “an accessory” to the campaign of terror launched by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization in Turkey. “Those who tolerate terrorism become an accessory to the bloody face of terrorism,” Erdoğan said without naming Germany in a speech delivered in Berlin during a gala dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the migration of Turkish workers to Germany. “I am calling on those who turn a blind eye to the activities of the terror organization in their publications, foundations, fundraising efforts as well as on those who let criminals roam freely [on their soil]. Are you aware of an 8-month-old baby slain in her mother’s womb [by the PKK],” he said.

At a joint press conference with Merkel on Wednesday, Erdoğan complained that the PKK was able to collect 6 million euros in Germany. “This money goes to the terrorist organization as financial support. This is really sad and thought-provoking,” Erdoğan said, calling on the German authorities to step up measures to prevent PKK fund-raising activities in the country.

Turkey accuses Germany, among other EU member states, for not doing enough to prevent the PKK’s fundraising activities and recruiting efforts. The PKK has increased its attacks in recent months, claiming the lives of many civilians, including a pregnant woman and children.

“Do those who preach democracy know the fate of the mother, Mizgin Doru,” Erdoğan said, adding: “I am asking those who do not lend necessary backing to the fight against terror, but lecture us on human rights. Are you aware of four-year old Sultan who was viciously killed?” Erdoğan was referring to a September incident in which the PKK opened fire on civilians and police in Batman, killing eight-month-pregnant Mizgin Doru (35) and her 6-year-old daughter Sultan Doru.

Doru’s husband, her 8-year-old daughter and three police officers were injured in the attack, while three terrorists were also killed. The woman’s unborn baby was saved via C-section, but later died in the hospital, bringing the death toll in this attack to three.

“The terror organization is not the only responsible party for these inhumane attacks,” Erdoğan said, adding that not only are those who pulled the trigger and ordered these killings liable, but those who support the PKK and lend material and moral support are just as responsible

“European countries should see how tolerance shown for the terrorist organization in Europe translates into bloody acts of terror in Turkey,” Erdoğan told the audience. He said the fight against terrorism would not prove successful though the efforts of a single country, calling on all countries to cooperate on the fight against terror.

The Turkish prime minister also lamented what he saw as a lack of cooperation by European countries, saying Europe does not take action when Turkey wants to discuss terror-affiliated organizations and their fundraising activities during meetings. “If you can justify these excuses, let them justify your conscience first and foremost,” Erdoğan underlined.

This is not the first time Erdoğan has criticized Germany for not dealing with the terrorist PKK and other terrorist organizations active in Turkey. He echoed similar remarks during a visit in February in Dusseldorf. Turkey also complains that Germany is not extraditing members of those organizations living in Germany, where it is estimated that around 4 million Turks live. Last month, Erdoğan accused a number of German organizations of funneling money to the PKK through loans offered to municipalities run by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). Expressing his discomfort with the behavior of some foundations that fund infrastructure projects in Turkey, Erdoğan said: “These [BDP] municipalities receive financial support from some foundations. The activities of one German foundation in the region are particularly striking. These foundations draw up loan contracts, especially with municipalities run by the Republican People’s Party [CHP] and the BDP. They not only sign such contracts, but also make sure the deal goes to a specific contractor. This is an outright money transfer to the PKK.”

Erdoğan continued to hammer Germany in a joint symposium with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. He said the EU should think big and become a global player. “Our expectation is that Germany should assume a leading role for the future of the EU by putting out such a vision,” he said.

Erdoğan repeated his earlier remarks that Turks in Germany should be seen as a “big opportunity for both Turkey and Germany.” He said his government agrees with Germany on integration while rejecting assimilation policies. “We encourage Turks to learn German and adopt German citizenship. Likewise, I invite Germans to assume Turkish citizenship,” he said, referring to German retirees settled in Turkey. Noting that some 4 million Germans visit Turkey every year, Erdoğan said this would help develop common bond between the two peoples.

Turkish prime minister reiterated that Turkey rejects all forms of discrimination including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. “I believe Germany will sincerely join in the common fight against these human rights crimes,” Erdoğan said.

On her part, Merkel acknowledged there are problems with integration. “We spent over 1 billion euros on integration courses between 2005 and 2010,” she said, adding that education is a key to overcoming these problems. “I think the children of immigrants should be especially supported in that regard to offer better opportunities,” she said. “When children start school with perfect German, then they can be successful,” Merkal argued.

Merkel emphasized that Turks are an integral part of German society, stressing that diversity is important. “We need a common foundation, which is a constitution. Human rights constitute the core of the constitution,” she explained.

The German chancellor noted that the success of integration policies would determine the future of Germany. She lamented, however, the emigration of highly skilled Turks from Germany, saying the trend saddens Germany. Merkel also underlined that Germany is closely involved with the future of Turkey. “We are on your side with utmost determination in the fight against terror, especially the PKK. There is no doubt about that.

Touching on Turkish migrants’ integration into German society, Erdoğan said on Tuesday Turks living in Germany must learn the German language, adding, “However, no one should expect us to forget our own mother tongue.” He added, “And after these 50 years, we now want to see Turks who make valuable contributions to every aspect of their country of residence with their culture, traditions, beliefs and language.”

He said German authorities should acknowledge that Turks are an indispensible part of German society today. “They are not guest workers or immigrants anymore,” he said, stressing that integration is a two-way street. “It is our right to ask and question to what extent Turks here benefit from equal participation, equal opportunities and coexistence,” Erdoğan noted.

Turkey complains that Turks in Germany are discriminated against when it comes to job opportunities and that Germans of non-Turkish descent are preferred in the workplace. Turks are also confronted with educational disadvantages in Germany, with dropout rates higher among the Turkish community than the national average. Difficulties in learning Turkish in the German educational system still continue.

‘We feel Germany abandoned us in EU bid’

In an interview with the German Bild newspaper, Prime Minister Erdoğan criticized Germany’s stand on Turkey’s EU aspirations, saying the EU’s largest member state has “abandoned” Turkey on the issue of EU accession. “Germany should do much more for Turkey’s EU membership bid as this would massively support integration. Since we Turks regard Germany very positively, we feel much let down on this issue,” he said in the mass-circulation German daily. Merkel’s government opposes Turkey’s full membership, though it says the negotiations should continue. German’s proposal of a “privileged partnership” instead of full membership was rejected flat-out by Turkey as unacceptable.

Linking Turkey’s EU bid with the integration issues faced by some 3 million Turks living in Germany, Erdoğan said Germany must do more to support Turkey’s EU aspirations as a way of boosting integration.

Asked what he considered German politicians’ biggest failing over integration, Erdoğan said, “German politicians insufficiently acknowledge the integration of the three million Turks in Germany.”

When asked how he describes Turks in Germany, Erdoğan said if they obtained German citizenship, they should be seen as Germans. Otherwise they are Turks. “It is very much like German retirees who settle in Turkey. They are Germans with all honors and rights,” he said. Thousands of German senior citizens moved to Turkey in recent years, settling especially in the southern parts of the country where they enjoy the sun and beaches.

Describing Turks as open and loyal, Erdoğan said Germany should show much more solidarity with Turkey. He also criticized Germany’s opposition to dual citizenship and laws that oblige any Turks moving to Germany to speak good German before arrival, saying this infringed their human rights.

“If a young Turkish man loves a woman in Turkey and wants to marry her, this is seen as a mistake, as Germany demands that she first learn German. But what is the language of love?” he said. Erdoğan pointed out there are no similar requirements in the EU acquis and asked Germany to overhaul its immigration policy. “It cannot be that the love of young people is only allowed to exist in German by decree,” he added.

Noting that even France allows dual citizenship, Erdoğan asked why Germany cannot do the same with its citizenship laws. About one-third of Turks in Germany have German citizenship, but they are required to renounce Turkish citizenship since changes introduced in 2000.

Erdoğan is scheduled to depart for France on Wednesday to attend the G-20 meeting in Cannes where world leaders will discuss plans to stabilize the eurozone and further boost the global recovery. The summit will focus on Europe’s efforts to contain its sovereign debt crisis and avoid a repeat of the financial shock that roiled markets after the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008.

02 November 2011
SOURCE: TODAYS ZAMAN

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