PHOTO: TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFPGermany's tough stance on fraying relations with Turkey is "understandable," not least given Ankara's detention of human rights activists including German nationals, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said in an interview published on Saturday. "The most recent arrests of human rights campaigners sadly confirms the destructive course Turkey has taken since the coup attempt, which we have firmly condemned," said Hahn. The fraying relationship between the two Nato partners has only served further to stymie moves to bring Turkey into the EU fold, with membership negotiations moribund. But Juncker stressed Turkey had to show "clearly its desire to be European and consciously take on board fundamental European values." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waded into the breach on Friday by saying in a speech that Berlin could not intimidate his country or "scare us with these threats."

Source: The Local July 22, 2017 12:33 UTC