Germany to support Turkey's chapter opening

Board member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Aygul Ozkan stated Monday Germany would vote in support of opening chapters between European Union (EU) and Turkey. Speaking in a joint congress of CDU and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Ozkan said, "Germany will vote 'yes' to open chapters but will also pay regard to the recent incidents". Ozkan, saying Turks living in Germany did not highlight EU issue, for they live in welfare and peace, Ozkan underlined, "The important thing is to evaluate the opportunities, gained here. Their places in education and status in workplaces are important. These issues belong to foreigners. We answer to these questions. I want Turkey's ties with Germany not to split. To get closer, ties need to be strenghtened." Germany give weight to relations with Turkey After the strained relation between Turkey and Germany on Monday, the German press secretary of the Chancellor's office Steffen Seibert underlined the good relations between both countries. Seibert said in a statement in Berlin, "There exists a close and friendly tie between Germany and Turkey." Seibert noted that the 3 million Turks in Germany have the function to build a bridge between both countries. The German press secretary said that Turkey goes through hard times but that that will not affect the positive relations between Germany and Turkey. Sources close to the German Foreign Ministry told that Germany works on a compromise proposal with Turkey about the chapter 22 at the EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg. It was expected that the chapter about "Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments" for Turkey's EU membership negotiations would be opened on June 26, but Germany blocked the process.