German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this year. German media reported this month that numerous Turkish military personnel and their families holding diplomatic passports had been granted political asylum. But Erdogan said Merkel told him asylum approval "was not up to her". Erdogan hit back at Germany's "fixation with Deniz", saying he told Merkel: "I reminded them: 'You have many Deniz, I gave you these documents'." Erdogan also said that the issue of German lawmakers wanting to visit the Incirlik military base near Syria was also discussed by the two leaders.

Source: The Local May 27, 2017 10:30 UTC