German government spokesman Steffen Seibert
Turkey is an important partner for Germany and Europe, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Steffen Seibert said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Germany on Sep. 27-29 would be an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest as well as differences.
“Turkey is an important partner for us, it is also an important partner for Europe,” Seibert said.
“It is in our fundamental interest to have an economically and politically stable Turkey, in which democracy is fully exercised,” he added.
Seibert said Merkel and Erdoğan would discuss bilateral issues and regional developments during their meetings on Friday and Saturday.
President Erdoğan will arrive in Berlin on Thursday for a three-day state visit aiming to improve political and economic relations between the two countries.
Relations between Ankara and Berlin suffered several setbacks in past years, but both sides have taken steps in recent months towards improving ties.
Erdoğan will be accompanied by key ministers during the visit, including ministers responsible for economy, finance, trade and industry.
EU heavyweight Germany remains Turkey’s main economic and trade partner. In 2017, the bilateral trade volume reached €37.6 billion ($43.6 billion).
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will arrive in Germany on Thursday for a high-profile state visit aiming to improve political and economic relations between the two countries.During his three-day visit, Erdoğan will meet his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.He is scheduled to meet with representatives of Turkish community and the CEOs of major German companies, separately.In Berlin, Erdoğan will receive a warm welcome, including a military honor guard and a state dinner hosted by Steinmeier at the presidential palace Schloss Bellevue.Turkey to continue buying Iranian gas: ErdoğanChancellor Merkel will host a lunch for Erdoğan at the Chancellory on Friday, and the two leaders will meet again on Saturday morning for a working breakfast to discuss bilateral and international issues.Erdoğan’s visit comes at a time of growing tensions between the U.S. and Germany over President Donald Trump’s unilateral moves in foreign policy and his imposition of additional tariffs on foreign goods.Developments in Syria, cooperation in addressing the refugee crisis, economic and trade relations between Turkey and Germany would be among other topics on the agenda.On Saturday, Erdoğan will travel to the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which has a large Turkish immigrant population.In Cologne, Erdoğan will attend the inauguration ceremony of Cologne Central Mosque, run by Turkish-German Muslim association DITIB.Video: Erdoğan to inaugurate one of Europe’s largest mosques in Germany
Germany prepares for Turkish President Erdoğan’s visit
Germany's planned 4 billion euro ($4.71 billion) tender to buy new heavy-lift helicopters that was due to be issued this autumn will be delayed, according to an official document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.The planned start of the tender by the end of September would be "delayed until further notice," the office in charge of military procurement said in a letter to several defence firms.The procurement office did not give a reason for the delay or say when the tender would be launched. "As soon as a new date is fixed, we will inform you immediately", it said in the short letter.The Bundeswehr, the German military, is due to receive 45 to 60 heavy-lift transport helicopters in the coming decade.Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen earlier indicated the tender could be delayed as financing of the project was not yet secured in the ongoing parliamentary budget negotiations.Von der Leyen, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, is pushing for steeper military spending hikes, but she faces resistance from the Social Democrat-led finance ministry, which prefers more spending on infrastructure and digitalisation.($1 = 0.8497 euros) 
Germany delays tender for military helicopters