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Germany must choose between Ankara and alleged coup plotters: Turkish PM

Xinhua, May 16, 2017 Adjust font size:

Germany needs to choose between Ankara and alleged Gulenist Terror Group who perpetrated the deadly coup attempt, if it wants to improve relations with Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Tuesday.

Speaking at lawmakers' meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Yildirim said Berlin had to decide if it wanted to "improve relations with Turkey and to strengthen its friendly ties coming from the past."

Relations between Germany and Turkey were strained recently.

Last Thursday, Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Germany's decision to accept asylum applications of some former military personnel affiliated with the Gulen Movement.

On Monday, Turkey's diplomatic sources confirmed that the visit of German lawmakers to Incirlik air base was "considered inappropriate for the time being," state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Gulen and his followers are accused by Turkish government of organizing the 2016 failed coup attempt, which left 249 people dead and some 2,200 injured. Endit