A NATO Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft approaches to land at an air base on Friday in Konya. The delegation had initially been due to come to Turkey in July for the routine visit, but the trip was blocked by Ankara. The deputy secretary-general of Nato, Rose Gottemoeller, led the delegation which included seven German MPs from different parties, according to the Bundestag. "We expressly welcome the fact that this visit could take place," German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said earlier Friday. Ties worsened this week after German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced her intention to seek an end to European Union membership talks with Turkey, which Ankara reacted to in anger, accusing German politicians of "populism".

Source: The Local September 08, 2017 14:37 UTC