Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 17 august 2018
Challenged by US and market crisis, Turkey turns to Europe

ISTANBUL (AP) — Beset by about democracy and the
a shaky currency and ten- rule of law in Turkey.
sion with the United States, Turkey's detention of half a
Turkey is reaching out to Eu- dozen German citizens for
rope to shore up relations what Berlin considers po-
with major trading partners litical reasons after a 2016
despite years of testy rheto- coup attempt has been a
ric and a stalled bid for EU major irritant. Another Ger-
membership. man citizen was arrested
The engagement by Turk- Wednesday for suspected
ish President Recep Tayyip links to Kurdish rebels, Ger-
Erdogan, who has harshly man news agency dpa re-
criticized Germany and ported.
other European nations in It would be in Turkey's own
the past, is part of a diplo- interest to come to an
matic campaign to capi- agreement with the United
talize on international un- States and others on the re-
ease over U.S. President lease of foreign prisoners,
Donald Trump and Ameri- said Germany's foreign min-
can tariff disputes around ister, Heiko Maas. Merkel
the world. Also this week, has also said that, while Tur-
Qatar pledged $15 billion key's economic stability is
in investments in Turkey vital, it is important that the
and Russia's foreign minister In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 file photo, a European Union flag is seen in front of Nispetiye Mosque country's central bank be
talked about using national in Istanbul. able to operate indepen-
currencies instead of the Associated Press dently. Some investors are
dollar in trade with Turkey. concerned that Erdogan
Even so, many commen- American pastor on trial in The dialogue with NATO al- difficulties in relations be- is increasing influence over
tators believe the path to a Turkish court. They won- lies in Europe as well as Rus- tween Europe and Turkey. the central bank to keep it
Turkey's long-term recov- der to what extent Erdo- sia, seen by many in Wash- He said Turkey, France and from raising interest rates, a
ery lies in bold economic gan, who has intensified his ington as a threat to U.S. Germany "are on the same worry that contributed to
steps, such as an interest control over Turkey as lead- interests, reflect Turkey's un- page" in opposing the U.S. the recent plunges in the
rate increase to curb in- er for nearly 16 years, can usual status as a strategic move to impose tariffs. value of the Turkish lira.
flation after years of debt- modify his positions after country in a volatile region Just last year, during a low Holger Schmieding, an
fueled growth, as well as a saying the currency crisis where world powers have point, Erdogan referred to economist for Berenberg
resolution to a bitter rift with and standoff with Washing- long been deeply involved. what he called the "Nazi bank, said there are limits
the United States over an ton is an "economic war." Turkey, which has secular practices" of contempo- to what the EU can do to
traditions and a mostly Mus- rary Germany. help Turkey.
lim population, has gen- Washington imposed sanc- "A few extra billion euros for
erally taken a pragmatic tions on two Turkish govern- Turkey to cope with the Syr-
course since the Cold War, ment ministers and dou- ian refugee crisis and some
staying anchored in West- bled tariffs on Turkish steel small amounts from other
ern institutions but also en- and aluminum imports over EU funds are feasible," he
gaging Iran and other re- the detention of American wrote in an analysis. "But
gional heavyweights. pastor Andrew Brunson on such sums would not make
In a fresh emphasis on Eu- espionage and terror-relat- a decisive difference."
rope, Erdogan spoke by ed charges. Turkey retaliat- Schmieding said a bailout
phone about stability and ed with tariffs on some U.S. by the International Mon-
cooperation with German imports and said it would etary Fund, seen as unlikely
Chancellor Angela Merkel boycott U.S. electronic at the moment, could be-
on Wednesday, and with goods. come a "realistic option" if
French President Emman- The EU has likewise been Erdogan improves political
uel Macron on Thursday. subjected to new tariffs on ties with the EU and the
In addition, Turkey freed steel and aluminum by the United States and makes a
two Greek soldiers who Trump administration, with "U-turn" on economic poli-
had been held in a Turk- the bloc responding in kind, cies. The $15 billion pledge
ish prison for months. And though the sides agree last from Qatar comes as the
a Turkish court freed Taner month to try to roll back the small nation on the Arabi-
Kilic, an Amnesty Interna- punitive duties. an Peninsula faces its own
tional representative who The EU, Turkey's biggest geopolitical crisis. For over
was jailed for 14 months, trading partner, provides a year, Bahrain, Egypt, Sau-
though the terror-related billions of euros to the Turk- di Arabia and the United
charges against him were ish government to help Arab Emirates have boy-
not dropped. several million Syrian refu- cotted Doha in a political
"There is a growing reaction gees on its soil and pre- dispute. Despite facing
in Europe against the Trump vent them from reaching initial strains in its own cri-
administration's restrictive Europe. But the relationship sis, energy-rich Qatar does
and punitive economic is also fraught. Turkey has have the money to spend
policies," Ibrahim Kalin, a accused European coun- to help Ankara. Despite Tur-
spokesman for the Turkish tries of harboring suspect- key overtures to Europe this
president, said in remarks ed terrorists, while Europe week, experts are braced
that did not address the has longstanding concerns for more twists and turns.q