German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is starting an unusual visit to Turkey to meet with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and conduct talks that Berlin said would be "within a strict minimum." According to the German presidential office, Steinmeier's trip aims to emphasize the close ties between the populations of the two countries, particularly the contribution of Turks who have come to work in Germany since the 1960s. The office pointed out that Steinmeier is heading to Istanbul to meet with individuals of immigrant backgrounds and representatives of civil society, and he will also meet with opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
The office added that "not starting the trip in Ankara is indicative," and instead, Steinmeier is going to Istanbul to engage with individuals of immigrant backgrounds and civil society representatives, and will meet with Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the most popular leader in the Turkish opposition, who some consider a potential future president of the country. Among those Steinmeier will visit is grandfather Arif Kilis, whose family has owned a kebab shop in the German capital for three generations. Kilis will serve kebab dishes at an official evening reception by the Bosporus in Istanbul. Steinmeier will also visit survivors of the earthquake in Gaziantep near the Syrian border, before meeting with Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday.
