Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hüseyin Müftüoğlu slammed Germany’s decision to reject the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to address Turkish citizens while attending the G20 summit in Germany next week.
“We strongly condemn and reject the unacceptable statements toward our President,” said Müftüoğlu.
"It is regrettable that some politicians in Germany are making unacceptable comments with domestic political calculations," he added.
A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that Erdoğan’s request to speak at a non-G20 event would be denied. This was also reiterated by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.
Müftüoğlu also appeared to take a swipe at former European Parliament President Martin Schulz, "The approach of the person who has chaired the European Parliament... once again underlines the true face of the mentality we are facing and their double standards," said Müftüoğlu.
Turkey’s Minister of European Affairs Ömer Çelik also condemned Germany’s move.
“German politicians talk to us about a sense of fundamental rights and freedoms. We take this issue in as wide a framework as possible. We say every time that these principles apply to everyone,” tweeted Çelik.
“Unfortunately, recent statements by some German politicians are once again at the center of the double standards. The statements of these politicians regarding our president meeting with our citizens in Germany cannot be accepted,” he added.
The Turkish president has addressed Turks living in Germany before. Germany is home to close to 3 million Turkish citizens.
“The right to hold demonstrations, freedom of speech and freedom of press has become a rhetorical and internal political matter [for Germany],” said Çelik.
“Those who are sensitive about these freedoms should know that these politicians are not respectful of freedoms, as they use them only for political purposes. Such politicians' declarations will not be construed as defenses of these freedoms, but as a matter of disrespect for these freedoms.”
Ties between Germany and Turkey have deteriorated following disagreements on various political and security issues.
Erdoğan criticized Germany’s “Nazi era tactics” when Turkish politicians were banned from speaking at rallies in Germany prior to the landmark referendum in April. Ankara refused to allow German lawmakers to visit German troops at Turkey’s Incirlik Base.
