Germany’s Foreign Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier strictly responded to Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolgu’s announcement regarding German lawmakers’ visit to the Incirlik base.
Steinmeier announced if Turkey continues denying German lawmakers to visit the base, German troops stationed there with the goal of fighting IS will be withdrawn, according to Deutsche Welle.
“Since the federal parliament affirms the issue of foreign military missions in Incirlik, then it is necessary for the lawmakers to be able to visit the mission”, he said.
He denied Cavusoglu’s demand regarding Germany distancing itself from the Armenian genocide resolution.
“I don’t think this has anything to do with the mater and I have told this to my Turkish colleague”, Steinmeier said.
Earlier Reuters reported Turkish permission for German lawmakers to visit the Incirlik air base will depend on the German government distancing itself from the Armenian Genocide resolution, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Monday.
Turkey, angered by the resolution passed by the German parliament in June that recognized the 1915 Armenian Genocide, has denied German lawmakers access to the base near the Syrian frontier.
Six German surveillance jets and a refueling tanker are using it to support the U.S.-led coalition’s strikes on Islamic State. Some German lawmakers have threatened to end the mission unless Ankara allows them to visit.
“It depends on the steps taken by Germany. If they take the necessary steps we will enable this visit,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara, when asked about allowing the German lawmakers access to the base.
“But unfortunately I have to say that those that mingle and manipulate our history in an unfair manner cannot be allowed on this visit,” he said, in reference to the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Foreign ministry officials said “necessary steps” meant the German government distancing itself from the parliamentary resolution and making clear it did not support it.
