Addressing lawmakers during a budget debate in parliament, Merkel underlined the importance of close dialogue, despite differences with Ankara on post-coup investigations in Turkey, democracy and human rights issues.
“Of course I will keep dialog channels open with Turkey because it is also in our interest to cooperate with Turkey in a reasonable way,” Merkel said.
She defended her Turkey policy and the EU-Turkey refugee agreement of March 18, despite growing criticism by opposition politicians who called for a halt to Turkey’s EU membership talks.
Merkel said the German government would continue to cooperate with Turkey in addressing the refugee crisis and other common challenges, but said Berlin would also raise issues of democracy and human rights in bilateral meetings with Turkish officials.