Turkish PM cancels meeting with visiting German FM

By  Trend

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim canceled the meeting with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, Turkey’s Sabah newspaper reported.

Yildirim’s busy schedule was cited as the reason for canceling the meeting earlier scheduled for June 5.

Gabriel arrived in Ankara on June 5 to mull the presence of the German Air Force at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.

Previously, Turkey blocked a group of German lawmakers from visiting the servicemen at the Incirlik Air Base prompting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to suggest that Berlin may consider moving 250 troops stationed at the air base to one of the neighboring countries.

In turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a possible withdrawal of the German Air Force contingent from the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey poses no problem for Ankara.

Planes of the US-led coalition members, which participate in air operations against the so-called Islamic State (IS aka ISIS/ISIL) terrorist group, are stationed at the Incirlik Air Base.