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Merkel 'concern' over Turkey's 'anti-Kurdish' law | Merkel 'concern' over Turkey's 'anti-Kurdish' law |
(35 minutes later) | |
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has expressed "deep concern" to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a law lifting immunity for MPs. | |
Critics say Mr Erdogan intends to use the law to evict pro-Kurdish politicians from parliament. | Critics say Mr Erdogan intends to use the law to evict pro-Kurdish politicians from parliament. |
She said she had also made it clear to Mr Erdogan that Turkey must reform its anti-terror legislation - bringing it closer to European Union standards. | She said she had also made it clear to Mr Erdogan that Turkey must reform its anti-terror legislation - bringing it closer to European Union standards. |
The two reportedly agreed on the need to continue cooperation on migration. | The two reportedly agreed on the need to continue cooperation on migration. |
The controversial immunity law is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which Mr Erdogan accuses of being the political arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). | The controversial immunity law is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which Mr Erdogan accuses of being the political arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). |
'Open discussion' | 'Open discussion' |
Under Mr Erdogan, Turkey has led an offensive against the PKK, which along with major Western powers it regards as a terror group. | Under Mr Erdogan, Turkey has led an offensive against the PKK, which along with major Western powers it regards as a terror group. |
"Of course, the lifting of the immunity of one quarter of the deputies is a source of deep concern," Mrs Merkel said. | "Of course, the lifting of the immunity of one quarter of the deputies is a source of deep concern," Mrs Merkel said. |
"I expressed this to the Turkish president and we discussed these questions very openly." | |
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the World Humanitarian Summit, which is being hosted by Turkey and opened today in Istanbul. | The two leaders met on the sidelines of the World Humanitarian Summit, which is being hosted by Turkey and opened today in Istanbul. |
The increasingly authoritarian Mr Erdogan has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges, and a successful vote for the bill last week is a first step towards that being possible. | The increasingly authoritarian Mr Erdogan has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges, and a successful vote for the bill last week is a first step towards that being possible. |
Mrs Merkel also said that Turkey needed to fulfil all of the conditions set by Brussels before its citizens can get visa freedom in the EU. | Mrs Merkel also said that Turkey needed to fulfil all of the conditions set by Brussels before its citizens can get visa freedom in the EU. |
The two leaders also agreed on the need to continue cooperation against illegal migration, Mr Erdogan's office said. | The two leaders also agreed on the need to continue cooperation against illegal migration, Mr Erdogan's office said. |
The EU has promised visa-free travel for Turkish people in exchange for reforms to bring Turkey's anti-terror laws more in line with those of EU countries. | The EU has promised visa-free travel for Turkish people in exchange for reforms to bring Turkey's anti-terror laws more in line with those of EU countries. |
Mrs Merkel said she "made it clear" to Mr Erdogan that no deal could be signed "if the terrorism legislation is not changed in the coming weeks". | Mrs Merkel said she "made it clear" to Mr Erdogan that no deal could be signed "if the terrorism legislation is not changed in the coming weeks". |
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