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Fight against terrorism to be on agenda of Turkey, Germany

Türkiye Materials 19 January 2015 19:51 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19

By Jamila Jafarova - Trend:

The fight against radicalization and terrorism will be on the agenda of Turkey and Germany, Sinan Ulgen, the chairman of the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy, EDAM, told Trend Jan 19.

Ulgen said the rise of Islamophobia in Western Europe, and the attacks against Turks in the EU countries have been of concern to both governments.

He believes that there are several other factors influencing the relations of Turkey and Germany.

Ulgen further noted that the issue of Western jihadists traveling to Syria to join the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS, formerly ISIS or ISIL), and also the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Germany will be among the issues discussed by the authorities.

He went on to add that given Germany's growing importance within Europe, the future of Turkey's relations with the EU has been an issue.

"Chancellor Merkel and her CDU (Christian Democratic Union) party have been against an eventual membership of Turkey," Ulgen said. "But unlike the former president of France, Sarkozy, they have not taken steps to block the negotiations."

He also said that after long years of treating Turks in Germany as guest workers, Germany changed its policy and nowadays pursues a policy for integrating Turkish families within German society.

"On the Turkish side, the objective of integration is supported," Ulgen added. "But at the same time, Ankara wants these families to retain their affiliation to Turkey and Turkish traditions. These different objectives have occasionally created political tension."

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir said Jan. 12 that Turkey and Germany agreed to establish a high-level strategic cooperation council.

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was on a one-day official visit to Berlin on Jan. 12.

"At today's meeting the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to create a high level strategic cooperation council," Bozkir said. "It is planned that the first meeting will be held in January or February 2016, most likely in Turkey."

"We have high level strategic cooperation councils with several countries, including Russia and Greece," the minister said, adding the creation of such a body between Turkey and Germany has been about to happen.

It should be noted that Germany is a home to about three million people of Turkish background.

Edited by CN

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