The 34th anniversary of German Unity Day was celebrated with a reception hosted by the German Ambassador to Turkey, Sibylle Katharina Sorg, in Ankara.
Haşim KILIÇ
THE reception at the German Embassy was hosted by Ambassador Sybille Sorg and her spouse Gunter Glisch. Among the attendees were Presidential Chief Advisor Ambassador Akif Çağatay Kılıç, President of the Court of Cassation Ömer Kerkez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the European Union (EU) Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, as well as many ambassadors, representatives of foreign missions, military officials, and guests.
Highlighting that 100 years ago the German-Turkish Friendship Treaty was signed, Ambassador Sorg included the following in her speech: “This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the friendship between Germany and the Republic of Turkey. Much has happened since then. Shortly after the signing of the Friendship Treaty, in the 1930s and 1940s, Turkey accepted immigrants from Germany. Famous German scientists and artists fled from the Nazi regime and found asylum here. The traces of these individuals can still be seen today, especially in Ankara, in the fields of science, art, and music, as we think of figures like Bruno Taut and Bauhaus architecture. After the Berlin Wall was built in October 1961, Germany accepted guest workers from Turkey to help rebuild the German economy. These people not only found work in Germany but over time also found a home there.
TIES BETWEEN GERMANY AND TURKEY
Today, more than 3 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany. As a Berliner, of course, I have many acquaintances connected to Turkey, and here in Ankara, I have met many people who have lived in Germany or whose family and friends are in Germany. Today, millions of people feel at home in both countries, linking Germany and Turkey.
RECORD TRADE VOLUME
The visit of the Federal President in April underscored these pivotal aspects of our relationship. Today, Germany and Turkey enjoy exceptionally close economic and political ties. In 2023, our bilateral trade volume soared to a record 55 billion Euros, with over 8,000 German companies operating in Turkey. Last week, the Joint Committee on Economic and Trade convened in Berlin, co-chaired by Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Mr. Ömer Bolat, and Germany’s Minister for Economy and Climate Protection, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. This meeting showcased our shared commitment to further enhance our economic partnership.
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY MUST BE PRESERVED
Faced with the violent conflicts and global issues nearby, both countries must be part of solving the most urgent problems. This is true for the Russia-Ukraine issue. The terrible war Russia initiated with its attack on Ukraine has been ongoing for 953 days. For 953 days, Ukrainians have been far from peace. For 953 days, fear and violence have prevailed. Neither Turkey nor Germany recognizes the illegal annexation of Crimea. Territorial integrity must be preserved. Germany and the EU will continue their comprehensive support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Germany is the European country providing the most extensive military and civilian support to Ukraine.
TWO-STATE SOLUTION
The situation in the Middle East remains dire, nearly a year after Hamas’ terror attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military response. Violence continues to engulf the region, with increasingly dangerous escalations. Although Germany and Turkey may have differing perspectives, both nations are united in their goal to end the violence and suffering, while preventing a wider regional conflict. This entails advocating for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and a two-state solution. For now, de-escalation is the primary focus, and our governments will keep working closely with allies and key regional actors to achieve this. The situation also applies to Armenia and Azerbaijan, where, for the first time in years, there is hope for a lasting peace agreement.
TURNING POINT FOR THE GERMAN PEOPLE
Deputy Minister Bozay, emphasizing that the reunification of East and West Germany was a turning point for the German people and world history, said, “As we celebrate the significance of German Unity Day, we also evaluate the strong relations between the two countries. Germany is an important partner for Turkey. Our diplomatic ties date back to 1763. Over centuries, we have deepened our relations and strengthened our friendship.”
GERMANY IS TURKEY’S LARGEST EXPORT ROUTE
Bozay noted that the two countries are close trade partners and NATO allies: “We work together to ensure stability and increase prosperity in our region and beyond. These strong relations are also reflected in the frequency of high-level bilateral visits. A significant part of our relationship revolves around economic and trade ties. Germany is Turkey’s largest export route. In the coming period, we aim to reach a trade volume of 60 billion dollars. Besides green and digital transformation, Turkey’s central role in supply chains and connectivity offers us many more opportunities.”
WE RELY ON GERMANY’S SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Bozay emphasized that Europe cannot truly be whole without Turkey’s full membership in the EU, stating, “The increasingly complex nature of regional and global challenges demands a new approach to Turkey-EU relations. We are confronting multiple crises, from the ongoing massacre in Gaza and the threat of war spreading to a larger region to the war in Ukraine, concerns over energy and food security, and climate change. Turkey has valuable contributions to offer in addressing these challenges. Its membership would broaden the EU’s vision and strengthen its influence as a global player, fostering more geostrategic thinking and efforts. In this regard, we count on Germany’s support for Turkey’s EU accession. We are navigating a period where cooperation is more crucial than ever, and we are prepared to continue working strategically with Germany toward this goal.”
