Former German leader warns of Turkish drift to China

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder has warned that growing tensions between European capitals and Ankara might result in Turkey orienting itself towards China.

Delivering a keynote speech in northwestern city of Monchengladbach on Monday night, Schroder voiced concern over the deterioration in the EU’s relations with significant partners like Turkey and Russia.

“We should bear in mind that Russia and Turkey have an alternative to Europe. They can take the path towards Asia,” he said in remarks reported by German news agency DPA.

The 73-year-old Social Democrat urged EU countries to develop better relations with Turkey and Russia.

“That is one reason why we need sustainable relations with Russia and Turkey,” he stressed, and added that all sides needed to restore confidence to make this possible.

Chancellor from 1998 to 2005, Schroder was a strong supporter of Ankara’s EU membership process and enjoyed good personal ties with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Strained ties

Ties between Ankara and European capitals have been strained since the defeated coup attempt in Turkey last year as Turkish leaders slammed European countries for failing to show strong solidarity with the government against the attempted military takeover.

Turkish politicians have also criticized Germany and several other European countries for turning a blind eye to outlawed groups and terrorist organizations hostile to Turkey.

EU leaders are scheduled to discuss future ties between the EU and Turkey during their planned European Council meeting in Brussels on Oct. 19-20.

Current German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday they will have an open debate on future relations with Turkey, but would not take any formal decision.

Turkey’s EU membership negotiations have been in stalemate since 2007, largely due to the Cyprus problem and the opposition of several member states to Turkey’s full membership to the bloc.

Merkel’s Christian Democrat (CDU/CSU) bloc has long-opposed Turkey’s EU membership but supported the continuation of accession negotiations in an open-ended way, something which was promised to Ankara before the CDU/CSU came to power in Germany in 2005.