German FM's remarks on Turkey unfortunate, aimed at internal politics 

Remarks by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Turkey amount to an investment for the upcoming elections in the country, Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said on July 20, calling them "unfortunate."

"We think that those unfortunate statements are an investment for internal politics aimed at the approaching elections in Germany," Kalın said at a press briefing.

Germany cannot continue as it had been in relations with Turkey, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on July 20, pointing to the need for a new direction in Turkish policy.  

"We need our policies towards Turkey to go in a new direction ... we can't continue as we have done until now. We need to be clearer than we have been until now so those responsible in Ankara understand that such policies are not without consequences," Gabriel told reporters. He said the new steps had been agreed with Chancellor Angela Merkel.  
    
His remarks came after a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry called comments by German officials regarding the arrest of six human rights activists "unacceptable."

Meanwhile, German foreign ministry on July 20 warned its citizens to be more careful in traveling to Turkey, citing recent detentions of people there, and Ankara's refusal to grant consular access in some cases, in violation of international law.
   
"People who are traveling to Turkey for private or business reasons are urged to exercise increased caution, and should register with German consulates and the embassy, even for shorter visits," the ministry said in a revised travel guidance.
   
"Foreign ministry sites are not always informed in a timely manner about the detention of German citizens, and access for consular services is not always...