German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Europe should not push Turkey away despite worries about President Tayyip Erdogan's tightening grip on power, seeming to play down talk that its aspirations to join the European Union are over. "You should not just push away such a partner, even in view of negative developments that we must address," she said. Asked about EU membership talks, Merkel was more cagey, although she reiterated that Turkey would cross a red line with the EU if it were to reintroduce the death penalty. "We in Europe must jointly discuss what sort of future relationship we want with Turkey," she said. Merkel's government has for the last decade talked about the need for greater integration of Germany Turkish community.

Source: Egypt Independent May 03, 2017 10:52 UTC