Turkey Permits German Lawmakers’ Visit to Incirlik Air Base

Air base in Incirlik, Turkey (Photo: Tobias Schwarz/Reuters/Pool)

ANKARA (Reuters)””Turkey has agreed to allow German lawmakers to visit soldiers stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in October, signaling some progress in easing strains between the two NATO allies, Germany’s Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

Turkey had banned German lawmakers from visiting the base in response to a parliamentary resolution declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide.

The row over Incirlik has compounded tensions between Germany and Turkey just as Chancellor Angela Merkel needs Turkish help in dealing with Europe’s migrant crisis.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the move, saying that it must be possible for deputies to visit an army that answers to parliament.

“With this decision by the Turkish government, we are a little further on in our relations,”