German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeir on Monday expressed his regret about not visiting Turkey after the July 15 coup attempt .
Steinmeir in an interview on the German TV channel ARD said that, "The coup attempt poses a serious threat to Turkey."
Pointing to the incidents on the night of the July 15 in Turkey he stated that, "Whoever watches the records of that night in Turkey, will know that Turkish army and Turkish citizens were fired upon."
The German foreign minister also highlighted that they harshly condemn the July 15 attempt and continued saying that they are with those who are suffering from the attempted coup.
Asked about whether he will visit Turkey or not, he said that, "When looking past, maybe we should have visited Turkey, at least could have visited. However, course of events were so quick. I talked with the Turkish foreign minister. But I was misunderstood as if we had complained and criticized about the measures taken by Turkey. I say that we have to show solidarity with those who were attacked."
Remarking that Turkey is not an easy partner, "but whether we want or not, we will need Turkey to find a solution to soften, end the controversy in Syria," Steinmeir said.
After the interviewer reminded the FM that the German ministry of interior and the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) has described Turkey as the center of radical extremist groups in the Middle East, Steinmeir stated that, "To make accusations like that in public, you have to have clear proofs, and because I haven't seen them, I do not share it and that's why I'm careful while making remarks in public."
