Erdogan to pay state visit to Germany – Steinmeier’s office

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a state visit to Germany on September 28-29, a spokeswoman for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday. The spokeswoman did not say if Erdogan would also hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, Reuters reported. Merkel’s office has not commented on the statement. German newspaper Bild said late July, citing government sources in Berlin and Ankara, that Erdogan was planning a state visit to Germany. It would his first official visit to Germany since 2014, and the first since taking over the Turkish presidency. The plans reflect efforts to rebuild relations after ties soured over Turkey’s crackdown following a failed coup in 2016 and its detention of German citizens and journalists.