Ankara keeps silent about German spying on Turkey

Despite initially demanding an explanation, Ankara has since decided to remain publicly silent over the allegations that Germany has been spying on Turkey for five years, while reports circulating in the German media allege that Turkey's silence is due to the information in the hands of the German intelligence service.

German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) was and still is spying on Turkey, citing a confidential 2009 BND document. After the allegations, Ankara lashed out at Berlin, summoning the German ambassador and asking German officials to provide satisfactory explanations.

In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, Ankara said the allegations in the German media suggesting that the BND has been spying on Turkey are “worrisome.” Even if they are only partly correct, Germany should provide an explanation for this “grave” situation.

Following the statement, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, whose name has been frequently mentioned as the next Turkish prime minister, spoke to his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on the phone late Monday about the eavesdropping scandal. “During our talk, I told him that if the allegations are correct, it is inappropriate -- indeed unacceptable -- [behavior] between two allied countries. He told me that the allegations are under investigation,” said Davutoğlu. The Turkish foreign minister also said that the two ministers had agreed to bring the heads of the BND and Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) together for a face-to-face discussion concerning the allegations and that afterwards Turkey will evaluate the incident. No word has come from the Foreign Ministry since.

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