Erdogan in Germany for the first time in three years
Protected by a large police contingent, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Germany today for the first time in three years. His meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Chancellery is highly controversial due to Erdogan's verbal attacks on Israel and his defence of Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU. Nevertheless, Scholz sees him as an important interlocutor, for example when it comes to controlling immigration to Europe.
The Chancellor had already invited Erdogan to Berlin following his re-election as President in May. Following the terrorist attack on Israel, which left around 1,200 dead, the Turkish president caused outrage with several statements on the Gaza conflict. He defended Hamas as a "liberation organization" and condemned Israel as a "terrorist state". For Germany, on the other hand, Israel's security is a matter of state and Hamas is a terrorist organization.
Several demonstrations are planned around his stay in Berlin, which will only last a few hours. The police will be deployed with around 1500 officers.
Despite the controversies surrounding Erdogan's verbal attacks on Israel and his support for Hamas, the Federal Government view him as a crucial figure in addressing immigration issues. As the Head of state, Erdogan's visit to Germany amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the recent escalation of the Gaza conflict, may further fuel debates and possible protests.
Source: www.dpa.com
