German-Turkish Relations Scrutinized on Eve of Erdogan Visit

While in the capital for his first official visit, Erdogan is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer but is not expected not try and woo either for German support of his country’s accession to the European Union.

However, the subject of EU membership is unlikely to remain dormant while Erdogan is in Germany. Turkey is one of 13 candidates to join the 15-nation EU but, so far, it has been refused a starting date for its membership negotiations because Brussels says it has not carried out sufficient reforms to bring its democracy up to Western standards. Despite this, Germany defended Ankara’s bid at the EU enlargement summit in Copenhagen last December.

Fischer makes positive noises

In contrast, German Foreign Minister Fischer has recently praised Turkish efforts to bring the country into line. In an interview published on the day when the Turkish prime minister is expected, Fischer told the business daily Handelsblatt newspaper: “Turkey is working seriously and intensively to further open the door to membership of the European Union.”

Fischer’s words are likely to be the ice breaker at a time when relations between the two countries are certainly frosty. Ties have recently been strained by Turkey’s decision to strip some of its nationals abroad of their passports for failing to do military service.

The federal government is afraid that the move by its Turkish counterpart could leave Germany with a number of stateless people of Turkish origin who could not be deported even if they committed serious crimes and it has warned Turkey the move could harm its EU bid.

Kaplan affair could cause discomfort

This could also lead to uncomfortable discussions surrounding the fate of Metin Kaplan, an extremist leader known as the “Caliph of Cologne” who is living in Germany and who is wanted by Ankara for treason. Turkey has demanded that Kaplan be extradited but this move was blocked last week by a German court.

Unhappy voices speaking out from Ankara about the Kaplan affair have already made themselves heard in Germany on the day Erdogan arrives. Hüseyin Diriöz, spokesperson for the Turkish foreign ministry, said on Monday that the German decision to block Ankara’s attempts at extradition were “wrong, unjustified, with prejudices and inadequate assessments of the independent Turkish justice system.”

Conservatives oppose EU membership

Turkey is also facing opposition within the German parliament to its EU plans. Germany’s conservatives have made it known that they are against the idea of Turkey joining the bloc with German help. Edmund Stoiber, the premier of the state of Bavaria, voiced his party’s views during last year’s general election, saying “For us, EU membership for Turkey is inconceivable.”

Germans opposed to Turkey’s accession range from those who feel Turkey’s Islamic culture would not fit within that of Europe to those concerned about the effect of Turkish workers on the ailing labor market. Germany is home to more than two million Turks, estimated to be the largest Turkish community in Western Europe and is Turkey’s most important business partner.

Reformist association to open in Berlin

Business will certainly be on the agenda in some capacity when Erdogan begins his visit proper. The Turkish premier will open the Berlin branch of the Turkish Industrial Association, TÜSIAD, in the capital. The association has been behind a number of radical reform process ideas in Turkey that have been linked with the country’s push for EU memebership.

It is also likely that Erdogan and the Germans will discuss the possibility of easing arms export restrictions that have stopped the federal government supplying Turkey with battle tanks.