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In his first official visit to Turkey as the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz (SPD) was welcomed by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital city of Ankara with an official ceremony yesterday (March 14).

Speaking at the joint press conference with Scholz, Erdoğan said that the main issues on their agenda were the political, military, economic, commercial and cultural relations between Turkey and Germany as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on since February 24.

As reported by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Erdoğan stated that Turkey and Germany have agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to solve the Ukraine war crisis while also taking measures to protect European security. He underlined that "Turkey will resolutely maintain its efforts for a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine".

Erdoğan: Turkey has key role in many areas

Addressing the reporters at the press conference, Erdoğan said, "We place importance on working in close cooperation with Germany on regional matters. Recent developments in our region have proven that Turkey has a key role in many areas, security and energy in particular".

"We as two NATO allies have reaffirmed our shared views and concerns (on the Russia-Ukraine issue). We have agreed that diplomatic efforts for a resolution should be sped up while taking necessary measures for the security of Europe," added Erdoğan further.

He also recalled that Turkey contributed to the process by bringing together the parties in Russia's war on Ukraine and establishing dialogue by referring to the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in a tripartite meeting hosted by Turkey's foreign minister in Antalya.

"Organizing such a meeting as the war was going on was in itself an important diplomatic achievement. We will persistently continue our efforts to reach a lasting cease-fire," said President Erdoğan.

Trade was also discussed

Germany-Turkey relations were also discussed at their meeting, Erdoğan said at the conference, adding that the current high-level consultation mechanisms with Germany should be revived:

"As two G20 countries, further advancing our economic partnership in the new global order will be to our mutual benefit. Germany is Turkey's number one partner in exports and number two in imports".

Erdoğan said that Turkey and Germany are determined to boost their bilateral trade volume to 50 billion USD.

He also underlined that the bilateral trade volume of the two states was around 38 billion USD in 2020 while last year it climbed to 41 billion USD.

Weapons purchased by Turkey from Russia

Answering the question of Deutsche Welle (DW) reporter who asked if Turkey will continue purchasing weapons from Russia by referring to its purchase of S-400 air defense system, Erdoğan said:

"About the weapons that we have bought from Russia... There are weapon or weapons that we have bought so far. In the current conditions, it may be early to talk about what the future will show. We need to see what the conditions will bring about and what not".

Scholz to Putin: Stop the war

Taking the floor, Germany's Chancellor Scholz called on Russia's President Putin "to stop the war in Ukraine now", adding that protecting refugees from the conflict is "our humanitarian responsibility".

He stressed that with every missile fired at Ukraine, Russia's separation from the international community grows further.

"We appeal to the president of the Russian Federation. We say stop now. And we say it can only be a diplomatic solution," he added.

On immigration and refugee issues, he said, "At the moment, we see about Ukraine that these issues do not end and as long as there is violence, unfortunately, people will still migrate and seek safe places".

Scholz thanked Turkey for Montreux

Further in his speech, Olaf Scholz stated that closing the straits to warships in line with the Montreux Convention is an important contribution to peace in this context and thanked Turkey for doing this.

"Ukraine must decide what is right for itself in its negotiations with Russia," said Scholz, explaining, "As we speak, we are speaking to help Ukraine. But Ukraine must decide what is right for itself".

Energy cooperation

Germany's Chancellor Scholz also underlined the importance of energy cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Turkey.

"Not only for Germany and Turkey, but also the EU and Turkey, of course, cooperation in the field of energy is very important," he said.

Germany and its new government want to evaluate the potential for better relations with Turkey, underlined Scholz, who took office last December, succeeding Angela Merkel's 16-year turn as chancellor.

He added that high-level dialogue formats between Turkey and EU will be activated and negotiations on updating the 1995 Customs Union will also continue. Thanking for a fruitful exchange of views, Scholz said, "I will be very happy to continue our cooperation in the future".

'We support Deutsche Welle'

As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's Chancellor Scholz also brought up the "differences" between the policies of Turkey and Germany that sometimes put bilateral relations under strain, such as "the rule of law, human rights or the perspectives of German citizens who are either arrested in prison or not allowed to leave homes" in Turkey.

"I think we have achieved a bit of movement there and I hope that we will find a mutually beneficial solution to these differences," he said

In response to a question regarding the license obligation imposed on international news websites DW, Voice of America (VOA) and Euronews, Scholz said, "Of course I said during our meeting with the President that we support DW. I noted that DW should have the right to broadcast freely and without restrictions. Our aim is that it is ensured". (AEK/SD)