The tension between Turkey and the European Union found a new safety valve during the visit of the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Turkey.

In Ankara, Steinmeier had a heated debate with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The German Minister announced on Monday evening that he will try to continue the dialogue with the Turkish government in spite of their differences on justice and the rule of law in Turkey.

After arriving in Ankara on Tuesday morning, Steinmeier stated that Germany and Europe support Turkey in its fight against terrorists from both Islamic State and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) but they are disturbed by the mass arrests and the attitude towards the media in Turkey.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu reacted sharply by noting that the Turkish people are fed up with the condensending attitude towards the negotiations on full membership of Turkey in the EU.

He added that there are 4,500 cases against members of the PKK in Germany but only three have been sent back to Turkey.

Steinmeier responded that he is not aware of the existence of such cases.

The tension between the EU and Turkey escalated after some of the leaders of the Turkish opposition were arrested at the beginning of November in relation to an investigation against Kurdish terrorists.

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