Ekip
March 13, 2016•Update: March 19, 2016
BERLIN
Several German deputies, who are opposed to Turkey, have started to make intense propaganda to avoid close cooperation between Ankara and Berlin, and the agreement between EU and Turkey over the refugee crisis and Turkey's EU membership talks.
Meanwhile, coalition government members in Germany led by Chancellor Angela Merkel criticize The Left party deputies' discourses and their claims about Turkey.
The opposition party in Germany, The Left, is known for its support and sympathy for the terrorist organization, PKK.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July.
The Left party deputies are also known for being close to Russia. Their efforts aimed at directing the German public opinion are regarded as stabbing attempts against Syrian unity and efforts to resolve the refugee crisis.
The Left party's chairperson, Sahra Wagenknecht, wants Turkey's EU negotiations to be suspended. Wagenknecht charges Turkey with human rights violation and for allegedly "carrying out a dirty war".
In addition, Wagenknecht wishes that a possible agreement between the EU and Turkey over refugee crisis be put to vote in the German parliament.
She is also opposed to opening new chapters in Turkey's EU membership talks and a visa-free regime for Turkish citizens.
One of the party’s deputies, Sevim Dagdelen, alleged that the Turkish government was somehow responsible for the situation in Syria and claimed that Ankara supported terrorist groups and Daesh.
Dagdelen requested the German government to stop supporting Turkey politically and militarily.
The German government's policy is not expected to be affected by speeches of The Left party members.
Niels Annen, foreign affairs spokesman for Merkel's coalition partner, Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), said The Left party was bending the truth regarding the situation in Syria.
"You try to put the whole blame about Syria on a single actor. With your efforts, neither you help the people in Syria, nor do you contribute to German public opinion to make them know what happens there. In opposition to your claims, what you have done does not help our efforts for peace," Annen said.
He added that the Left party remained silent about airstrikes carried out by Russia and Assad forces in Aleppo; however, the party praised the YPG's "successes" enthusiastically and this meant a big contradiction since the Left party indicated that it was against any armed method.
The YPG is the military wing of the PYD terrorist group. The PYD is the terrorist PKK’s Syrian affiliate.
The Left party's anti-Turkey discourse annoyed Christian Democratic Union of Germany and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CDU/CSU) led by Merkel.
Showing strong reaction against The Left party's speeches, the CDU emphasized that the German government will maintain its close cooperation with Turkey for finding a solution to the refugee crisis and Syria.
Merkel’s Christian Democrat bloc (CDU/CSU) has long been skeptical of full EU membership for Turkey, but it recently softened its stance when Berlin started to seek closer cooperation with Ankara to address growing challenges in the region.
At an EU-Turkey summit in Brussels on March 7, European and Turkish leaders agreed on the outlines of a new deal, which foresees closer cooperation in addressing the refugee crisis, and also accelerating Turkey’s stalled EU membership talks.
The plan aims at improving conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, discouraging irregular migration through the Aegean Sea and resettling some Syrian refugees directly from Turkey to the EU.
EU leaders are expected to decide on the plan at their summit meeting on March 17-18 in Brussels. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is also scheduled to take part in the discussions.
