Germany to restrict economic activity with Turkey over imprisoned German citizens – Merkel

‘Berlin will be forced to restrict trade with Turkey, and review ongoing projects, in order to press for the release of German citizens detained by Ankara, German media report Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying.
“We will have to reduce our economic cooperation with Turkey and put some projects under review,” Merkel told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper when asked how she wants to secure the release of Germans detained in Turkey.
The federal government is committed to liberating German citizens in all available ways, Merkel said.
The German chancellor added that breaking off communication with Ankara will “lead to nothing,” however.
In early September, two Germans were detained in Turkey.
“We have to assume that the arrests could be politically motivated,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said, as cited by Deutsche Welle.
DW reported that Turkish authorities are currently holding 55 Germans.’
Read more: Germany to restrict economic activity with Turkey over imprisoned German citizens – Merkel