Erdogan reluctant to meet Pence, calls Maas a 'dilettante'
October 16, 2019
The Turkish president at first insisted he would not meet US officials, but the presidency quickly backtracked on this. He also took aim at Germany's foreign minister, calling him "a man who doesn't know his place."
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The Turkish president reacted with a series of outbursts against top foreign officials as the international community steps up pressure on Turkey over its military operations in northern Syria.
"I am not going to talk to them. They will be talking to their counterparts," he told a Sky News journalist. "When Trump comes here I will talk."
Despite these comments, the Turkish presidential office soon issued a statement saying Pence and Pompeo would hold face-to-face talks with Erdogan after all on Thursday. White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien met Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday.
It is thought the US delegation is looking to discuss a ceasefire but Erdogan rejected this ahead of talks.
Maas a 'political dilettante'
Turkish president Erdogan personally targeted German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, calling him politically inexperienced.Image: Reuters/A. Altan
Erdogan also called Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas a "political dilettante" over Germany's decision to halt weapon exports to Turkey.He also argued that the move would have no real impact, sarcastically saying "we're finished" as a result of the temporary restrictions.
Erdogan accused Maas of being politically inexperienced and not knowing his limitations.
"If you understood anything of politics, you wouldn't say that," Erdogan said referring again to the arms restrictions announced by Maas.
Maas is 53 and has been a Cabinet member in Germany since 2013; he's been in elected office since 1996.
On Wednesday the Social Democrats' Rolf Mützenich came to his party ally's defense, calling Erdogan's comments on Maas "completely unacceptable."
German-Turkish ties were particularly rocky in the aftermath of 2016's failed coup attempt in Turkey and the widespread crackdown by Erdogan's regime that followed. The detention of several German-Turkish activists and journalists were a particular point of tension, not least that of Deniz Yücel. Over the past year or so, however, many of the detainees were released and tensions had appeared to subside.
Kobani awaits Turkey's next move in northern Syria
Kobani on the Turkish border in northern Syria was the core of the Kurdish revolution in Rojava. DW looks at life inside Kobani, as Turkey continues moving heavy weapons to the Syrian border.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
PKK graffiti in Kobani
Turkey sees no difference between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria and the PKK organization in Turkey. The PKK is also considered a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, however, the western allies have supported SDF in their fight against the "Islamic State" (IS) group.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
Taking a stand
Adla Bakir, head of the Kongra Star organization, an umbrella for women’s groups in Rojava, recalls how she gave an oath to serve the people in the opening stages of the Kurdish revolution in 2011. The revolution’s emphasis on gender rights has empowered women to become fighters, politicians and activists.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
Protecting their neighborhood
Elderly women from the Society Protection Units set up nightly roadblocks in Kobani. The force is led by male and female volunteers, and is independent of the official police and armed forces. The volunteers are drawn from across all communes in the city, with the aim to swiftly mobilize forces in the event of an attack, and to prevent a repeat of the 2015 civilian massacre by IS.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
A welcome diversion
A Kurdish fighter serving with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Kobani enjoys some time with his son. He, like many other soldiers, is deployed in close proximity to his home and family. The Turkish border is a few hundred meters away.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
A grim reminder
The funeral of a Kurdish SDF fighter in Kobani. He was killed while fighting against IS forces in Deir Ezzor province in November. Despite US President Donald Trump's claim that IS has been defeated, the battle along the Euphrates river is far from over.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
Remembering the dead
Martyrs' Center in Kobani. Following years of clandestine work, the center was able to open publicly following the revolution in 2011. It functions as a social hub, supporting the families of those killed by Turkish, Syrian or IS forces.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
A brief respite
Soldiers from the SDF at a military base in Deir Ezzor province. Posters of the Kurdish ideological leader, Abdullah Öcalan and other prominent figures, adorn the walls. Following threats of an invasion by Turkey, some forces were redeployed from the fight against IS to the 500-kilometer (310 miles) long Turkish border.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
A glimmer of hope?
Men at a Kebab shop in Kobani cautiously welcome the news that US forces will stay in Syria for the time being. The comments by US National Security Adviser John Bolton appeared to put the brakes on a withdrawal abruptly announced by Donald Trump last month and initially expected to be completed within weeks.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
Protests gather pace
Demonstrators in Kobani, made up mostly of schoolchildren, protest against the Turkish shelling of Kurdish villages in November.
Image: DW/B. Gerdziunas
Taking a break
Youths in Kobani make their way back from the funeral of a Kurdish fighter. Kurdish residents fear that another military onslaught is imminent.
