MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, Gabriel announced that Germany would reconsider its economic policies with respect to Turkey, while the German Foreign Ministry tightened its recommendations for the country’s nationals wishing to visit Turkey. The measures are linked to the arrests of human rights activists in the country. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the measures proposed by Gabriel are necessary.
"As a country providing shelter to PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] &FETO [Fetullah Gulen's movement] terrorists in its own territory, statements by Germany are just double standards&unacceptable," Cavusolgu said on Twitter.
As a country providing shelter to PKK&FETO terrorists in its own territory, statements by Germany are just double standards&unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/nZuIpeXikg
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) 20 июля 2017 г.
Earlier this week, the German government said it stood in solidarity with Steudtner, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel slamming Ankara and stressing that the detention of activists was unjustified. The German Foreign Ministry also summoned Turkish ambassador over the incident. Berlin demanded immediate release of Steudtner and consular access to the detainee, saying that linking a human rights activist to terrorism supporters was "absurd."
Turkish authorities have detained thousands of journalists, diplomats, judges, members of the military and human rights activists after the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016 over their alleged support for exiled Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of being behind the coup.
