Wadephul: Turkey ‘must solve its problems in the region’

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, successful an interrogation with Turkey’s NTV television network, said Ankara needed to take some steps earlier taking portion successful the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) financing programme aimed astatine defence industries.

Wadephul, who visited Ankara Friday, where helium met with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, frankincense edged person to Greece’s statement regarding information successful SAFE, contempt German unit connected Greece to judge Turkey successful the program.

“Turkey, successful bid to articulation SAFE, indispensable solve its problems successful the region,” Wadephul told NTV.
Asked to elaborate, Wadephul clarified that Germany “wants Turkey to articulation the SAFE program. Of course, some steps are needed for this. I judge that Turkey has turned towards Europe, but it will person to bash some things.”
In effect to a question astir the steps that request to beryllium taken, Wadephul noted: “We see it important for Turkey to judge the values of the EU, which are peculiarly important. We are watching this carefully. Values such arsenic the regularisation of law, quality rights, democracy, state of the press, parliamentary ideology are of large value to the EU. These should beryllium examined. Let’s talk and attack each other. I cognize that Turkey wants to attack Europe successful these areas. However, successful the coming play we should spot wide steps successful this direction. This will beryllium an statement to our partners within the EU who are presently expressing their doubts and hesitations. And when some problems successful the portion are resolved, then we will proceed with the rapprochement of Turkey with Europe.”
Asked astir the acquisition of Eurofighter planes that Ankara is seeking, Wadephul noted that their merchantability whitethorn beryllium completed within this year, arsenic negotiations person progressed.