Berlin responds to Ankara's blackmail

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has responded to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu's statement that the Ankara government would allow a German delegation to visit the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey "if Germany takes the necessary steps", which imply renunciation of the resolution on recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.  

According to Deutsche Welle, Steinmeier threatens to quit Bundeswehr's participation in the anti-ISIS international fight in Turkey if Ankara keeps hampering the German lawmakers' visits to the Incirlik airbase. When the Bundestag considers extension of the mandate for deployment of German servicemen in Turkey, the lawmakers from the relevant committees should have an opportunity to visit the base, the German minister says, noting that he will try to persuade the Turkish authorities to permit the MPs to visit the base.   

At the same time, Steinmeier rejected the demand of his Turkish counterpart, who earlier said that the Bundestag MPs would be let into the territory of Turkey only in case the German government disassociates itself from the Parliament's resolution that condemns the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.  Steinmeier says that he sees no direct relation here and that he has repeatedly said this to his Turkish colleagues.       

To recall, earlier Turkish Foreign Minster Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Ankara government would allow a German delegation to visit the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey "if Germany takes the necessary steps." Cavusoglu added that those who try to "manipulate" Turkish history "in an unfair manner," would not receive permission to visit the facility, where German troops, six German surveillance jets, and a refueling tanker are part of the US-led coalition fighting "Islamic State" (IS) militants.
Later on Monday, Turkish foreign ministry officials were cited by the Reuters news agency as saying that "necessary steps" meant the German government must distance itself from the parliamentary resolution and make clear it did not support it.

To note, German Bundestag adopted on June 2 the resolution on Armenian Genocide by a vast majority of votes. Only one parliamentarian voted against and another abstained from voting. The resolution recognizes not only the fact of Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th century but also Germany's responsibility for these events. The ambassadors of Armenia and Turkey were present at the hearings in Bundestag. However Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel and Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier were not present at the hearings.  Deputy Government Spokesperson Christiane Wirtz stated that Merkel supports the resolution. Turkey, in its turn, has warned Berlin on the level of first ranking officials against the possible negative consequences for the Turkish-German relations in case the resolution was adopted. Ankara recalled its Ambassador to Germany Avni Karslioglu following the adoption of the resolution.