The 34th anniversary of German Unity Day was celebrated with a reception hosted by the German Ambassador to Turkey, Sibylle Katharina Sorg, in Ankara.
By 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 highlighted these and many other aspects. Today, there are extremely close economic and political ties between Germany and Turkey. In 2023, our bilateral trade volume reached a new record, amounting to 55 billion Euros. More than 8,000 German companies are active in Turkey. Last week, the Joint Committee on Economic and Trade met in Berlin, chaired by Minister of Trade Mr. Ömer Bolat and Germany’s Minister for Economy and Climate Protection, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, demonstrating our desire to further strengthen our economic relations.
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
This also applies to the Middle East. Almost a year after Hamas’ terror attack on Israel and Israel’s military response, violence continues to grip the entire region. We are now witnessing even more dangerous escalations. Germany and Turkey may have different perspectives, but ultimately we are working towards the same goal: ending violence and suffering and preventing a widespread regional conflict. This means a ceasefire, the release of hostages, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and a two-state solution. Right now, de-escalation is the priority. To this end, our governments will continue to work tirelessly in close cooperation with allies and key regional actors. This also applies to Armenia and Azerbaijan, as for the first time in a long while, we see a glimmer of hope for a lasting 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 also stated that it is impossible for Europe to be whole without Turkey being a full member of the EU, adding, “The increasingly complex structure of regional and global challenges calls for a fresh look at Turkey-EU relations. We are facing numerous challenges and crises, ranging from the massacre ongoing in Gaza and the risk of the war spreading to a wider region, to the war in Ukraine, concerns about energy and food security, and climate change. Turkey always has contributions to make in overcoming these challenges. Turkey’s membership will expand the vision and influence of the EU as a global actor, enabling more geostrategic thought and effort. In this context, we rely on Germany’s support for Turkey’s EU membership. We are passing through a period in which the need to act together is greater than ever. We are ready to continue working with Germany from a strategic perspective in this direction.”
