Long expected clear words from Scholz to Erdogan
Green Party Chairwoman Ricarda Lang has called for clear announcements regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned visit to Germany this Friday. It is important to maintain diplomatic channels and remain in contact, also in order to stand up for the interests and security of Israel, Lang said in Berlin on Monday. "And at the same time, we saw Erdogan's abhorrent words on Israel at the weekend and also a relativization of Hamas' terror." In view of the bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel, Erdogan had recently spoken of "fascism".
"I expect very clear words from Olaf Scholz and also from the Federal President in response to these obnoxious statements by Erdogan," Lang emphasized with regard to the Chancellor and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Very clear words that it is clear to us: Israel's right to exist is not negotiable."
Erdogan is coming to Berlin this Friday. In addition to the Chancellor, he will also meet Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. After the terrorist attack on Israel, which left around 1200 dead, Erdogan called the Islamist Hamas "a liberation organization". In his own words, he broke off contact with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Diplomacy should be utilized to address the conflicts arising from Erdogan's controversial statements about Israel. Despite this, Lang strongly urged Scholz and Steinmeier to deliver unequivocal words, asserting that Israel's right to exist is non-negotiable.
Source: www.dpa.com
