FILE PHOTO - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim speaks during a joint news conference with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told executives from German companies in Turkey that his country wanted to prevent political tensions damaging their economic ties.

Yildirim said Ankara did not want the political tensions to escalate and that it was important for politicians to ensure that their disputes did not spill over and harm commerce.