German President Joachim Gauck paid an official visit to Turkey. He had extensive talks with his counterpart, President Abdullah Gül, and he held a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He also attended a public gathering at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ).Germany is, for Turkey, a European country resembling no other. The only sizable Turkish diaspora has lived in Germany since 1963.These Euro-Turks had officially been asked to come as "guest workers" to fill in the generational gap due to World War II and they have provided labor for the German economy and society. Due to the reunification of families, despite a large number of initial guest workers returning to Turkey, a very important minority of about 3 million people, originating in Turkey, live, work and prosper in Germany.Problems have always been present in the countries' relations since the 1980 coup. But steadily, especially under Justice and Development Party (AK Party) governance, these relations have taken a smoother path, despite overt opposition to Turkey's membership in the EU professed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Prime Minister Erdoğan's visits to Germany, where he has talked to very large crowds of Euro-Turks advocating deeper integration in German society and the value of speaking good and fluent German, have brought relations to a much better level, despite some criticism on the part of right-wing German political parties.Turkey and Germany are committed to each other to an extent that is irreversible. The visit of the German president was seen, by a large majority, as a larger, friendlier perspective to underline historic, economic, cultural and human relations. Thus, there was real disappointment and deep resentment to see President Joachim Gauck opting for the style of a civil rights activist during his official speeches in Turkey.Democratic functioning in Turkey is under continuous scrutiny by the European Commission and the European Parliament, which prepare and deliver yearly reports, as well as by a myriad of independent international organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. The last evaluation in the Freedom House yearly report giving Turkey a poor evaluation concerning press freedom created a joyous outcry among opposition circles, which largely forget that Turkey's best performance in press freedom for the last 20 years has been by far in the AK Party government era.It is up to a head of state to establish the longevity and historic depth of relations between allied countries. Prime ministers are in charge of criticizing political issues and forging solutions. Presidents of republics should place the dialogue at another level. The British Queen, for instance, during her official visits does not place on her agenda political problems, which are the responsibility of her prime minister.President Gauck's visit has been a real disappointment and left deep scars. A very important opportunity to better our relations with Germany was wasted and Turkish pride deeply shaken, for almost no reason. In diplomatic terms, this is called a big mistake.