Erdogan arrives in Berlin after losing bid to host Euro 2024
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey’s president arrived in Berlin on Thursday. The German capital was under tight security for his arrival.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is joined by his ministers of economy, finance, trade, and industry, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
He hopes to revitalize ties between the two nations after relations plummeted when Turkey arrested German nationals as part of a crackdown on civil society in the wake of the failed 2016 coup.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host a state dinner at Bellevue Palace on Friday, from which Chancellor Angela Merkel will be notably absent.
A meeting between Merkel and Erdogan is on the schedule, however.
Merkel has stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Turkey, which has helped stem the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe.
Germany has a large Turkish population – some three million people.
Kurds in Germany are among those planning to stage protests during Erdogan’s three-day visit.
Earlier on Thursday, Turkey lost out to Germany in its bid to host the Euro 2024 football tournament.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) cited concerns about Turkey’s human rights record and hotel capacity in their evaluation of the country’s bid for the games.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is joined by his ministers of economy, finance, trade, and industry, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
He hopes to revitalize ties between the two nations after relations plummeted when Turkey arrested German nationals as part of a crackdown on civil society in the wake of the failed 2016 coup.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host a state dinner at Bellevue Palace on Friday, from which Chancellor Angela Merkel will be notably absent.
A meeting between Merkel and Erdogan is on the schedule, however.
Merkel has stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Turkey, which has helped stem the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe.
Germany has a large Turkish population – some three million people.
Kurds in Germany are among those planning to stage protests during Erdogan’s three-day visit.
Earlier on Thursday, Turkey lost out to Germany in its bid to host the Euro 2024 football tournament.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) cited concerns about Turkey’s human rights record and hotel capacity in their evaluation of the country’s bid for the games.