Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: DPAA German parliamentary delegation has called off a Turkey trip, saying Wednesday that Ankara had made clear they were not welcome amid a festering bilateral row. A foreign ministry spokesman said Berlin "regrets and laments" the fact the trip wouldn't go ahead, calling it "another missed opportunity" for dialogue. Ties between the NATO allies have been strained especially since a failed coup in Turkey last year, and have worsened over multiple issues including a referendum campaign to expand President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers. In another spat, Turkey has repeatedly refused to allow German lawmakers to visit the Incirlik military base near Syria, which is used by the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Source: The Local May 24, 2017 13:18 UTC