Turkey’s decision to release a German human rights activist is a sign of improving relations between the two NATO allies, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Thursday, adding that Germany wanted all its citizens detained in Turkish prisons freed. “This is the first sign of a thaw, as Turkey has fulfilled all its commitments (in the case of Steudtner),” Gabriel told Der Spiegel magazine, adding that former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had mediated to secure his release. Spiegel had reported that Schroeder flew to Turkey on Sept. 25 to discuss the issue of German detainees with President Tayyip Erdogan. Eleven German citizens are still in detention in Turkey, including four with Turkish-German dual citizenship. In a televised debate with her main opponent before the election, Merkel said she would seek an end to Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union.

Source: Egypt Independent October 26, 2017 10:41 UTC