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Germany said Turkey should negotiate a solution to its disputed natural gas exploration plans in the eastern Mediterranean.
German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer called for an agreement after meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Thursday in Ankara. The talks focused on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, Deutsche Welle reported.
“As a NATO partner, Turkey had committed itself to resolving conflicts on the basis of international law, through negotiations. This also applies to contentious issues in the eastern Mediterranean,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
Disputes between Greece and Turkey over maritime borders in the Mediterranean have been exacerbated by the discovery of hydrocarbons off the Turkish coast adjacent to Greek islands and Cyprus.
In December, the European Union approved sanctions against Turkish officials involved in gas exploration after the country deployed seismic exploration ships into waters claimed by Cyprus and Greece. Germany has rejected Greek, Cypriot and French calls for an arms embargo on Turkey.
EU leaders shelved the sanctions in March after Turkey withdrew the ships and Greece and Turkey began initial contacts to resolve the dispute.
Berlin, Ankara, Athens, Nicosia and the EU managed to find a better dialogue on the issue in recent months and Germany would continue to support the negotiations, Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
Akar called on Germany to lift restrictions on the export of arms to Turkey, Deutsche Welle said.
“I am aware of Turkey’s wishes, but Turkey is also aware that this is an issue that is subject to very strong restrictions in Germany,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
The ministers also discussed Turkey’s role in securing the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, after the withdrawal of other NATO troops from the country.
“We agreed that, as a first step, diplomatic missions must be maintained. This requires infrastructure at the airport as well as the presence of secure medical infrastructure,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
“I am grateful that Turkey is willing to play an essential role here. But we also agreed that it cannot only be Turkey’s job. It also requires support from within the alliance (NATO) and from partners.”
U.S. forces plan to complete a withdrawal from Afghanistan in early September. NATO says keeping a presence at Hamid Karzai International Airport reflects concerns about the Afghan government’s ability to safely secure international air travel.
Turkey has requested financial, logistical, and political support from its allies as a condition for agreeing to the plan.
