After days of trading blows over Turkish politicians trying to hold campaign rallies on German soil, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Wednesday that he hoped relations between Berlin and Ankara could normalize.

"Good relations are important because things are so tense now ... returning to normality is what my Turkish colleague and I want," Gabriel told reporters.

The foreign minister said he made it clear, however, that "there are lines that should not be crossed and one of those is the comparison with Nazi Germany."

While agreeing that "there is no benefit to having bad relations with Germany," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said shortly afterwards that Germany "must decide whether Turkey is a friend or not."

Hitting out at the German media, Cavusoglu said it needed to stop its "black propaganda" against Turkey, adding that he sees an "anti-Islamic sentiment in Germany."

Systematic antagonism

Gabriel's breakfast meeting with Cavusoglu came just a day after the Turkish foreign minister held a speech in Hamburg where he accused Germany of "systematic antagonism against Turkey."

Watch video 02:44 Share "Germany and Turkey should calm down" Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2Ynfc Social Democrat Niels Annen: 'Germany and Turkey should calm down'

Cavusoglu's speech was just one of several planned rallies in the last week in which he and his allies hoped to influence around 1.4 million eligible Turkish voters in Germany ahead of a controversial referendum on April 16. German local authorities canceled four of the rallies, however, citing safety concerns.

A "yes" vote would expand Erdogan's powers as president, with critics warning that the new presidential system would cement a one-man rule in the country.

Nazi comparisons

In a fiery speech in on Tuesday evening, Cavusoglu demanded that Germany stop lecturing Turkey on human rights and diplomacy and pointed at Europe's problems with religious minorities and crimes against humanity.

Previously, the Turkish foreign minister told the newspaper "Hürriyet" that he believed the German system was "totally repressive" when it came to suppressing the pro-Erdogan events.

"All practices resemble those of the Nazi era," he said, echoing comments made by Erdogan on Sunday in which he compared the rally cancellations to "Nazi tactics."

'German agent' Yucel in Turkish prison

The already strained relations between Germany and Turkey took a turn for the worse after German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel was detained last month over allegations of terrorism propaganda.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Bloodshed by the Bosphorus A blood covered resident of Istanbul stands near the Bosphorus Bridge. There were clashes between civilians and the army after the military had blocked the bridge. Government sources say that more than 260 people were killed in fighting during the coup attempt.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Tanks roll through streets Tanks drove through several cities in the night in a completely surprise move. The Turkish military announced its takeover. The tracked vehicles flattened cars in the streets of Istanbul and Ankara, turning the country into a war zone.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Lights out in parliament After the bombing of parliament in Ankara, the building is in ruins. Fighter jets flew low over the capital and had the citizens panicking.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Who owns the Republic Monument? The army not only closed the Bosphorus Bridge: it also occupied Taksim Square, a main transportation hub in Istanbul. The soldiers positioned themselves in front of the Republic Monument.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Icon of resistance Erdogan supporters also protested on the square. A showdown began when a soldier pointed his gun at a man. The army opened fire on the protesting crowd on the square.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath The calm after the storm Shirts off their backs: After the failed coup attempt, rebel soldiers laid down their arms on the Bosporus Bridge and fled.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Put to flight After the armed forces had surrendered, soldiers tried to get on a bus to flee from the angry masses.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Cheering crowds President Tayyip Erdogan returned to Istanbul. Cheering crowds received him at the airport. Erdogan announced that the rebels would pay a heavy price.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath It's over! Erdogan supporters triumph and wave the Turkish flag after the army's withdrawal. The coup attempt has failed.

Turkey: The failed coup and its aftermath Posing on a tank Bizarre souvenir: A mother took a picture of her daughter on top of a tank. The tank on the Bosphorus Bridge was surrounded by Turkish police. Author: Astrid Prange / gro



Yucel, a journalist for the German newspaper "Die Welt," is the first German reporter to be detained in Turkey as part of Erdogan's wide-ranging crackdown on press freedom.

The 43-year-old, who has penned several articles critical of the Turkish government's treatment of ethnic Kurds, has been in jail since February 14th, pending his trial for alleged terrorism propaganda, with Erdogan labeling Yucel a "German agent."

Speaking to German broadcaster ZDF, Gabriel previously said he would do everything to ensure the reporter's release.

"People like him actually build bridges between our two countries," he said.

ksb/jm (dpa, AFP, Reuters)