Turkey summoned Germany's ambassador to its foreign ministry on Monday amid mounting tensions between the two NATO powers.
Sources said that it was planned to summon envoy Martin Erdmann earlier, but that the meeting was conducted today because the ambassador to Turkey was not in Ankara.
Erdmann was summoned regarding the “Kurdish Festival” organized in Cologne on Sept. 16 by Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) supporters. Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the event and the terror propaganda.
German authorities did not permit the 'festival', which backs the PKK, to take place last year, citing "security reasons." Approximately 3,000 PKK terror organization supporters are expected to attend. Turkish media members have not been granted permission to report on the festival.
Erdmann was also summoned by the foreign ministry on Saturday. Ministry sources said that it was a coincidence that Erdmann was summoned twice in such a short period of time.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
