Germany Overlooking 'Erdogan’s Sins' to Stem Russia’s Influence in Mideast

The German government understands that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s actions do not comply with the principles of law but in the current situation Germany has no other options but to cooperate with him, Deutsche Welle reported.

Representatives of the German parliamentary opposition have repeatedly highlighted Erdogan’s numerous "sins." According to the lawmakers, the war against Kurds, arrests of journalists and weapons supplies to Daesh militants are enough to abandon the idea of close cooperation with Turkey.

Members of the ruling coalition are not surprised with the statements.

"Erdogan is persecuting Kurds and wiping his boots on freedom of speech. There is no one who has doubts about it," Karl-Heinz Brunner, a member of the Social Democratic Party, said at a Bundestag session.

Nevertheless, Germany considers Turkey as well as Saudi Arabia somewhat like "anchors of stability" in the Middle East, according to Deutsche Welle. Germany insists that having partnership relations with both countries is the only way to counter terrorism, normalize the situation and resolve the migrant crisis.

At the same time, there is another reason for Germany to cooperate with countries defying basic European principles. According to German expert and lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter, by building ties with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Germany wants to be sure that Russia and Iran would not control the situation in the Middle East, a region in the sphere of Europe’s interests.